By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Celebration senior Zach Dyer ended his high school football career by signing a scholarship to play college ball at Jacksonville University.

He began it by stepping on a field for the first time.

“Four years ago, I didn’t know what an offensive guard was,” said Dyer, who played three seasons of varsity ball for the Storm, and played both offensive and defensive line as a senior.

The Dolphins, who are taking him to play offense, represent a chance for him to stay in-state and close to his family. Charleston Southern and Minot (S.D.) State were also in the mix, along with an assortment of other smaller schools.

“Coach Andy (McLoud, JU’s offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator) visited me during spring practice last year, then he called me during the fall,” the 6-4, 255-pound Dyer, who is currently throwing the discus for the Storm track team, said. “He convinced me to go there over several D-III schools, although when I visited in January I really liked the school and the program and I walked off campus knowing I’d be going there.

“It’s a great opportunity for me and my family. They can drive to see the games and by staying in the state I can also use my Bright Futures scholarship.”

Jacksonville, coached by former Florida Gators quarterback Kerwin Bell, shared the Pioneer Football League title with Dayton (8-0) and was 10-1 overall. The Dolphins were ranked 21st in the season-ending Football Championship Series poll, but were not extended an at large invitation to the FCS playoffs. Their only loss was against Appalachian State, the top-ranked FCS school.

Dyer, who has a twin brother, Alex, who played with him on the Celebration line and will be going to the University of West Florida in an attempt to walk on to the baseball team, has only play football for four years.

He slapped the pads on for the first time on the Storm’s freshman team. And he, like the program in general, matured with age and experience. Celebration, under first-year Coach Ben Aarestad, went 4-6 last season, matching the 2006 season for the best record in school history while playing a tougher schedule.

“It was rough my sophomore and junior year,” Dyer said. “I was glad to see that we hopefully started the program on a better path our senior year.”

Dyer said the coaching staff told him he had developable skills for their pass-happy offense.

“They liked my aggressiveness, and that I had the strength to develop into a good offensive lineman,” he said. “I need to get my technique better for pass blocking. High school is all about run blocking.”

Aarestad said that both Dyer and the school are getting something out of this.

“I think Jacksonville is getting a very good player in Zach Dyer. He is a smart and very hard-working kid. Zach will go there and compete for a starting job in his first year. “He has good feet for a guy his size and that will help him. He is going to have to gain strength and add about 25 pounds which he should be able to do in his first year because he will be in a regular weight lifting program year round.”

Dyer said he plans to major in sports medicine.