Former Auburn running back Michael Dyer is planning to enroll in university classes but not play football this season, looking ahead to a return to the field in 2013, his uncle, Andre Dyer, said Wednesday.
Dyer topped 1,000 yards rushing as a freshman and sophomore and transferred to Arkansas State for this season but was recently dismissed for violating team rules.
"Michael wants to play college football again and is really not focused on the next NFL draft," Andre Dyer said. "We want to get Michael's head in the right place, work on building character and addressing issues before turning back to look at any interest from major schools."
Dyer was offensive MVP of the BCS National Championship Game when he was a freshman. His plan, according to his uncle, is to enroll at a school near his home in Little Rock, Ark.
Dyer wasn't eligible to play this season for the Red Wolves after the NCAA denied his request to play immediately. He transferred to Arkansas State in January after he was suspended indefinitely by Auburn coach Gene Chizik for violating unspecified team rules before the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
"There have been growing pains and bad decisions," Andre Dyer said. "So much attention and so many influences from so many directions. I just want him to be the young man he was when he left Little Rock."
Dyer rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, including a 1,093-yard performance as a freshman that broke Bo Jackson's school record of 892 yards set in 1982. Dyer rushed for 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
