South Bend, Ind., native Dieter leaving SMU, wants to join Bowling Green receiving corps

1/4/2013

BOWLING GREEN — A former Parade All-American football player will transfer to Bowling Green State University to join the Falcons football program.

Gehrig Dieter, a wide receiver from South Bend, Ind., will enroll in classes at BG this winter after transferring from Southern Methodist University. Dieter made the announcement on Twitter Thursday and confirmed it in a phone interview.

“I received an offer from Bowling Green after my sophomore year, and for a long time I planned to go there,” Dieter said. “Then I went to SMU, and shortly after I got there my position coach left, and I wasn’t happy there.

“So I’m coming back to Bowling Green, which is a great school, especially for a wide receiver. I’m ready to get there and start working.”

Per NCAA rules he will sit out the 2013 season but have three years of eligibility remaining starting the following season. NCAA rules prohibit Bowling Green coach Dave Clawson from commenting on Dieter’s transfer.

Dieter was named Indiana’s 4A player of the year in 2011 after catching 81 passes for 2,171 yards — the fourth-highest total in the nation and 24 touchdowns. He broke the national record for receiving yards in a single game with 437 while at Washington High School. He also holds Indiana state records for most receiving yards in a career (4,326), a season (2,171), and in a 4A State playoff game (168) as well as for TDs in a career (49).

Following his senior season, Dieter was named All-Indiana first team and was a first-team All-American by MAXPreps while garnering second-team All-American from SI.com and third-team All-American from ESPN.

Dieter enrolled early at SMU and immediately made an impact as a “true,” or first-year, freshman. He played in nine games for the Mustangs, starting three, and caught 10 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown, which came against Baylor.

Dieter said once he decided to leave SMU, Bowling Green was a natural destination.

“I’ve always liked [offensive coordinator] Warren Ruggerio and [receivers coach] Mark Carney and coach Clawson,” Dieter said. “They always have been positive with me, and we’ve had a good relationship.”

Dieter said his older brother, Nolan, and a high school teammate, Eric Woods, will join the Falcons as walk-ons.

Nolan Dieter is a quarterback who also earned 4A All-Indiana honors while a senior in high school, throwing for 1,617 yards and 17 touchdowns while running for 706 yards and seven more TDs. A left-handed passer, Nolan Dieter served as a walk-on at Indiana in 2011 but did not return to the team last season.

The Falcons currently have two Washington High School players on the roster in freshman defensive lineman Terrance Bush and freshman defensive back Alphonso Mack.

Contact John Wagner at: jwagner@theblade.com, 419-724-6481 or on Twitter @jwagnerblade.