SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Michael Dyer always anticipated he could thrive in Auburn's offense. He just didn't think it would happen this quickly.
Timing is everything, they say, and the 2010 season has already been a time to shine for the freshman running back from Little Rock (Ark.) Christian Academy. He ran for a state career record of 8,097 yards during his high school days and has already set an Auburn freshman rushing mark of 950 yards, breaking the record of 829 set in 1982 by Bo Jackson, who won the Heisman Trophy three years later.
That kind of early success comes as a bit of a surprise to the 5-9, 215-pound Dyer, who was considered one of the top high school running-back recruits in the nation a year ago.
"I thought I was going to come in, learn the offense my first year and get some snaps here and there, and then maybe, as the (year) goes on, get more carries," Dyer says.
"I learned the offense quicker than I thought I would. I thought it would take me a little longer to adjust to the offense and college football, but it kind of came naturally. I grew into it day by day and learned the process and got off to a good start. It's been going good since then."
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Dyer, who has run for five touchdowns, opened the season with 95 yards on 14 carries against Arkansas State but surpassed that yardage total three times, including a 180-yard outing against Mississippi, the most in Auburn history by a Tiger freshman against a Southeastern Conference opponent.
Dyer is thriving in the offense designed by coordinator Gus Malzahn, another legend in Arkansas high school circles. Malzahn made his mark as a coach, winning three state titles and taking seven teams to the championship game before embarking on a college career five years ago.
"There are lots of things you have to learn as a running back," Dyer says. "It's not just running. There's blocking; who to block at the right time. It's a lot of little things you have to know to play in this offense.
"It's great to be part of this and be here with Gus. He's a great coach, and being with him is kind of like I'm home. I knew playing for Gus and being in this offense is where I wanted to be."
Dyer is one of three running backs, with Onterio McCalebb and Mario Fannin, who share most of the running back responsibilities for the Tigers. However, the three together have only 68 more carries on the season than Heisman-Trophy winning quarterback Cam Newton, and Dyer has averaged 12.3 carries a game.
"That's not a problem at all," Dyer says. "He goes out there and does his job, and we appreciate all the work that he does and everything he does for Auburn. If he runs the ball 30 times and we win, we don't have anything to fuss about.
"Whenever somebody is doing good, we're going to be right beside him. If he's not doing so great, then one of us steps up and tries to get the ball in the end zone. If it comes down to me getting 20 carries, 30 carries, I'm going to do what I can to make sure we get it in the end zone. If Cam gets it, then Cam gets it. He's done a pretty good job. If he gets 26 carries and he scores a bunch of touchdowns and hey, we get a ring, then I'm happy."
And Dyer has already shown he knows how to move when an opportunity presents itself.
"I have confidence in myself and in every one of our running backs to get the job done," he says. "When your time comes, you're just waiting on it. When you get it, you just take advantage of it. Whenever we need somebody to step up, that's when you're ready for it."
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