Dyer on Maxwell Award watch list

Auburn and former quarterback Cam Newton brought home the 2010 Maxwell Award, and another Tiger will have an opportunity to do the same in 2011.

Sophomore running back Michael Dyer was honored as a member of the pre-season watch list for the Maxwell Award on Tuesday, given to the nation's most outstanding player in college football.

Dyer has company however, as he is joined by 65 others on the list.

Dyer rushed for perhaps the quietest 1,093 yards on a national championship team in history in 2010. Dyer was also the offensive MVP in Auburn's 22-19 win over Oregon in the BCS national championship game, when he thrashed the Ducks to the tune of 143 yards.

Last season, Newton won the Maxwell, as well as the Heisman and a host of other trophies.

Other top SEC candidates on the pre-season watch list include Arkansas senior wide receiver Greg Childs and junior running back Knile Davis, South Carolina junior wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and sophomore running back Marcus Lattimore, Georgia sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray, and Alabama junior running back Trent Richardson.

With the loss of Newton, Dyer along with junior running back Onterio McCalebb will be expected to take over the burden of the Tigers' running game duties in 2011 behind an inexperienced offensive line.

The former five-star high school running back from Arkansas burst onto the scene in 2010 against South Carolina, as Dyer rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries in a 35-27 win over the Gamecocks.

Dyer's biggest rushing output of 2010 came on the road against Ole Miss, as the freshman rushed for 180 yards on 21 carries and added a touchdown in the 51-31 win.

In Auburn's spring game, Dyer rushed for only 15 yards on three carries.