Courtesy AuburnUndercover.com

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – In the days leading up to Michael Dyer’s commitment, Little Rock Christian Academy coach Justin Kramer politely dodged the questions.

Fans, other coaches and media outlets wanted to know. What was Dyer, Kramer’s prized running back going to do?

When Dyer, rated the nation’s top running back prospect by ESPN/Scouts Inc., announced Friday morning that he plans to sign with Auburn, Kramer was at his side. He’s been there through every step of the process.

“I have been trying to make sure, as far as I m concerned, that I do everything that I need to do to serve Michael and make sure I am not cheating him in any way,” Kramer said. “That part of it has been busy. It has been fun and it has been a good experience. It has been good for Michael. I am convinced he made the best decision for him and that is good.”

Dyer said Friday that he has known he wanted to go to Auburn since his second visit to the campuslast summer. Dyer told whoever asked that Auburn was his leader, and he never wavered. Kramer said that can be a hard thing to do in the state of Arkansas.

“I am glad for him that it is over,” Kramer said. “He said he feels like he weighs 90 pounds. It is a lot of stress on him, and that is unfortunate because it is supposed to be fun. There is more stress added when you are in Arkansas and you are not going to choose Arkansas. There is a large contingent that will probably be upset by that.”

But Kramer said Dyer made the best decision for himself.

“I encourage people to remember that I was free to choose my future and they were free to choose their future,” Kramer said. “It is not a spit in the face or any slap at Arkansas for not choosing Arkansas. It is just what he felt like for him was the best choice.”

Kramer said he talked with Dyer about picking the school that is the best fit for him as a person and a football player.

“My only advice was to make the best decision for you based on what you want,” Kramer said. “Go somewhere where you feel like it will be a good fit for you as a person to continue developing and growing you into your goals that you set for yourself. I think he did that. He tried real hard, and he feels like the coaching staff at Auburn is a great fit as far as to continue and encourage him to develop as a young man and not just as a football player.”

It took one meeting each with Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and running backs coach Curtis Luper for Kramer to understand why Dyer had Auburn at the top of his list.

“I have known of Coach Malzahn for years,” Kramer said. “He was a great Arkansas high school football coach, so I know the standards he lives by. That was reinforced when I met him. Then to meet Coach Luper and spend some time with him, knowing that he was going to be Michael’s running back coach, and see how he carries himself was good. It just confirms what Michael told me he felt about them.”

Kramer said he helped Dyer with whatever questions he had, and he helped him get through the pressures of the process.

“He has handled it well,” Kramer said. “And when I ask him why Auburn or what are you thinking, he gives very intelligent, thought-through answers. I think he has handled it maturely.

“He has tried to really look into it, and not just get caught up in the crowd on game day or the fans. That is just one day of the week. There are six other days there that you are going to have to live and grow and develop and mature. What is influencing you then? I think he has looked into that. He did a lot better than I would have done.”

Courtesy AuburnUndercover.com