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With the excitement surrounding the Dec. 2013 hiring of new coach Dino Babers and the ability of the coaching staff to attract high-caliber athletes, perhaps no one created more of a buzz coming into the program than a guy that former BG coach Dave Clawson and staff were able to nab before the coach took off for Wake Forest. This guy was ranked a little higher even in our countdown coming into last year.
Gehrig Dieter didn't establish himself as the primary target of Falcon QB's in 2014, but did show flashes of talent on a team that was not short of wideout depth. Dieter started off strong but incurred an injury at home Indiana against the Hoosiers on Sep. 13th. The injury kept him out of five games that surely would have better represented the skills that Dieter brought to the gridiron. He came back on to the scene at Akron on Nov. 4th and continued to demonstrate explosive play-making ability. In fact, Dieter hauled in a reception of at least 20 yards in five of the Falcons' last six game of the season. He finished off the year with a strong Camellia Bowl performance with seven receptions totaling 108 yards.
Building off of last season, a healthy Dieter will surely be expected to produce even bigger numbers. This should be the case despite the fact that the team has Baylor transfer Robbie Rhodes ready to suit up, and will be expected to produce from day one.
The explosive nature of the former Indiana 4A POTY, won't be neglected by defensive schemers on opposing coaching staffs. About half the conference had the opportunity to see it last year, and that was without Matt Johnson playing at QB. Remember, Dieter is the same guy who posted a NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL RECORD when he totaled 437 yards receiving in a game. In fact, here's a game when he hauled in eight catches for 373 yards.
The 6'3" 205 pounder is someone to be feared in the BG offense in 2015. He'd be the best receiver on several of the teams in the MAC. But keep in mind, we might very well have more Falcon wide receivers in our countdown still to go.