Top MAC Football Players of 2014: #49 Gehrig Dieter, Bowling Green WR

Checking in at #49 on our MAC Top 50 countdown is Bowling Green State University Falcons wide receiver Gehrig Dieter. The redshirt sophomore is entering his first season of eligibility with the Falcons after transferring to BG last year, but that didn't prevent our panel from recognizing his potential to be among the best pass-catchers in the MAC this season.

Dieter is a 6-foot-3, 209-pound receiver out of South Bend, Indiana who will help the Falcons' offense stretch the field this season. Dieter was a phenomenal talent during his high school career, and was named Indiana's 4A player of the year in 2011. He caught 81 passes for 2,171 yards (good for fourth highest in the nation) and 24 touchdowns in his senior season. He broke a national record for receiving yards in a game when he posted 437 at Washington High School. Dieter also holds Indiana state records for most receiving yards in a career (4,326), most receiving yards in a season (2,171), and career touchdowns with 49.

After originally committing to Southern Methodist University, and prior to being redshirted last season, Dieter caught ten passes for 168 yards and a touchdown for the Mustangs in 2012. Ultimately though SMU wasn't the place for him.

"I received an offer from BGSU and for a long time I was planning to go there,"Dieter told The Toledo Blade after transferring to the Falcons. "Then I went to SMU, and shortly after I got there my position coach left, and I wasn't happy there."

BGSU is fresh off of a MAC championship season, and the talk has been about Dino Babers and how this team will excel in his up-tempo offense. Starting quarterback Matt Johnson, running back Travis Greene, and big play receiver Ronnie Moore all return for the Falcons who should once again fight to be the best team in the MAC.

How does all of this play into effect for Dieter? Well with the experience Johnson, Greene, and Moore bring to the table combined with the ability Dieter has to stretch the field he could be in for some intriguing 1-on-1 matchups. He's tall, athletic, strong, physically gifted, and a matchup nightmare in the MAC. As you can see the wide receiver corps is loaded, and when you add a kid of this caliber it creates problems for opposing defenses.

Shaun Joplin and Alex Bayer combined for 152 targets in 2013, but both are now gone. The good news is Dieter and Moore will step in immediately and will be key contributors along with some of their other returning options. Dieter will not only fight for the ball, but creates big plays just about every time he touches the ball. Dieter will also use his 4.5 speed to stretch the field. His combination of size and speed in the MAC should really help Dieter perform like a man amongst boys.

Don't fall asleep on Dieter. If you do you may miss some explosive fireworks. He's got big-play-potential every time he touches the ball, and if he fit in with the Mustangs (a team that throws the ball more than just about anybody in college football) then he will fit right in with the Falcons and Babers offensive scheme.

Who will be No. 48? Well, his name bears a resemblance to hospitality expert and TV personality on the Travel Channel.