The Alabama Crimson Tide have already landed the top recruiting class in the nation on National Signing Day and have now landed a star graduate transfer wide receiver in Bowling Green's Gehrig Dieter, according to Michael Casagrande of AL.com.
The Crimson Tide are fresh off another National Championship season under head coach Nick Saban, and after losing star players like Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, Saban is looking to reload for 2016. The Bowling Green wide receiver will finish his undergraduate degree in May and will join the SEC with his final year of eligibility.
Dieter was a consistent playmaker for the Falcons in in his junior season and recorded 94 receptions for 1,033 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound wide receiver proved that he can get it done against SEC competition this past season, as he caught seven passes for 133 yards and scored a touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers in Bowling Green's season opener.
Dieter used his Twitter account to announce his decision to transfer to Alabama. "Being a part of three MAC Championships and winning two is something not many can say they did. I am so proud to be a member of the teams that accomplished this lofty goal!" Dieter wrote. "Since the bowl game and our season ended I have been contemplating the direction for what I want to do in the future. I contemplated the NFL, but decided I needed another year to improve at the college level. I spoke with my family and decided a graduate degree would serve me long after football ends." Dieter's entire post can be seen below.
— Gehrig Dieter4⃣ (@gehrigd4) February 13, 2016
Dieter will have plenty of competition to fight for a place on the field in Alabama's talented roster, and he will be on the national stage almost every Saturday, as Saban continually has his team at the top of national rankings.
This isn't the first time the Crimson Tide have taken talented graduate transfers, as wide receiver Richard Mullaney caught 38 passes and scored five touchdowns after transferring from Oregon State last year. Mullaney made some big plays for Alabama on their championship run and caught four passes for 82 yards during the College Football Playoffs.
