1996 Football Roster
Deon Dyer
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 240
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Chesapeake, VA
- High School:
- Deep Creek
Awesome – that’s how running backs coach Ken Mack describes Dyer. His teammates voted him the Most Outstanding Player on offense in the spring. Has matured a great deal in the past year. Ready to lead by example. Has the potential to be a high-round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. Should be one of the first fullbacks selected if he has the type season he is capable of producing in 1999. Working hard at being in the best condition of his career. Runs well, can catch the ball out of the backfield and is among the best blocking backs in college football. He is the best blocking fullback Mack has ever coached. Will play fullback and when UNC goes into a one-back set. Gained a great deal of confidence from his performance against NC State last November. Understood how much he loved the sport after he was injured late in 1997 and was unable to play the final two games, including the Gator Bowl.
1998 • Junior Season
Tied with wide receiver Na Brown for the team lead with seven touchdowns (six rushing, one receiving) and was tied with Brown for second on the team with 42 points. Third on the squad in rushing yards behind tailback Rufus Brown and quarterback Ronald Curry. Carried 84 times (second most) for 258 yards and six TDs. Rushed for a career-high 58 yards and his first two-touchdown game against NC State. Had a one-yard scoring run in the second quarter to give UNC a 10-3 lead and a 36-yard dash in the third quarter to put the Tar Heels ahead 31-10. Had a highlight film, 3-yard TD run at Duke in which he ran smack into the middle of the Duke line, bounced off three defenders and then ran over a defensive back into the end zone. Scored on runs against Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Maryland, Duke and NC State and caught a TD pass against Clemson. Scored in all six of Carolina’s regular-season wins. Every game in which he scored, UNC won. Played in all 12 games. Saw action on 561 snaps. Started all but the Duke game.
1997 • Sophomore Season
Lead blocker for 1,000-yard gainer Jonathan Linton. Had 25 carries for 90 yards and scored one touchdown. Caught five passes for 31 yards. Statistically, he had his best game of the year against Virginia, carrying the ball six times for 46 yards. Rumbled 31 yards for a touchdown in the 48-20 victory over the Cavaliers. Fractured his left fibula while blocking in the Clemson game and was unable to play against Duke and in the Gator Bowl.
1996• Freshman Season
Co-recipient of the Tar Heels’ Most Outstanding Special Teams Player. Appeared in every game a total of 131 plays and had 13 tackles. Had five multi-tackle games, caused a fumble against Georgia Tech and had a season-high three tackles against Houston. Also had 58 yards rushing on four carries, including a 48-yard gain at Wake Forest. Caught two passes, one for 12 yards at Wake Forest and one for 27 yards against Maryland. Gained distinction for his all-out special teams coverage.
Deep Creek High School
All-district, all-region and all-state choice as a junior and senior. Named the Most Outstanding Football Player in the Tidewater, Va., region. Deep Creek posted undefeated regular-season marks of 10-0 in his last two seasons. Ran for 1,790 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior. Rushed for 301 yards in a playoff loss in 1995. Coached by Jerry Carter.
Personal
Born Deon Joseph Dyer on Oct. 2, 1977. Majoring in African-American Studies. Favorite pro team is the Buffalo Bills. Favorite athletes are hockey players. Greatest athletic achievement was rushing for 58 yards and two touchdowns against NC State. The people who have influenced him the most are trainers Scott Oliaro and Dan Hooker. Homesick for his dog, Poochie. Post-college ambition is to teach. Says the word that best describes him is "flexible." Hobbies are writing and listening to music.
Deon Dyer’s Regular-Season Statistics
Year Rush Yds Ave TD LP 1996 4 58 14.5 0 48 1997 25 90 3.6 1 31 1998 84 258 3.1 6 36 Totals 113 406 3.6 7 48
