It’s hard to stand out as a star at a power program like Florida’s St. Thomas Aquinas; there are so many great players, how does any particular star stand out?
Four-star Class of 2017 linebacker Tyler Dunning thinks he has an answer: You decide to attend a collegiate program that isn’t a traditional superpower, making it clear that you see yourself as the alpha dog, not a part of the pack.
On Wednesday night, Dunning announced that he was committing to Mississippi State. The Florida native has no tie to the state of Mississippi, nor does he have a number of teammates or classmates heading with him to Starkville. At least not yet. That’s not what the decision was about for Dunning, who saw an opportunity to contribute quickly in the Bulldogs’ shift to a 3-4 defense in need of more star linebackers.
“I chose Mississippi State, because I felt like I wanted to be a trail blazer,” Dunning told Scout after making his decision. “I wanted to let it be know that that’s where Tyler Dunning went. I want it to lead to something special.
“One day it crossed my mind about leading something special. I thought about it real hard and I talked to (Mississippi State assistant coach Terrell Buckley) about it. He said they need me and he said that they wanted me after he said they needed me.”
Dunning is already the 12th pledge to Mississippi State’s Class of 2017, though he won’t be the only one from Florida if he has anything to say about it. That’s the act of a true leader, which is precisely what Dunning plans to be in Mississippi in the years ahead.