Commitment Interview: Florida 2017 4-Star LB Tyler Dunning Trailblazing Path to Mississippi State
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
A surprise announcement on Wednesday by 2017 linebacker Tyler Dunning left more questions than answers on the recruiting trail. The St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) 4-star recruit just six days before had confirmed that his Top 5 teams was still intact with LSU, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Syracuse being among the lucky few in a RNG interview. A Twitter post changed the potential fortunes of five different teams making Mississippi State a lucky program.
Dunning caught recruiting attention nationally after helping St. Thomas Aquinas to a Florida state title in 2015 going 13-1 with a trophy clinching 45-10 win over Viera High School. Dunning (6-1, 230), playing primarily in first halves of most games due to lopsided scores, accumulated a stat line of 46 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, four fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and one sack.
Come to find out a phone call between Dunning and Mississippi State recruiting coordinator Terrell Buckley prompted a Twitter post reading, “Just would like to let everyone know that I’m committed to Mississippi State!!! #HailState.”
In a Recruiting News Guru interview, I caught up with Dunning after his commitment to the Bulldogs to get the inside scoop on his commitment took place.
Interview
Tyler, first off, congratulations on your commitment to Mississippi State.
“Thank you.”
I’ll throw the big question out there first, what influenced you to commit to Mississippi State on Wednesday?
“Coach Buckley and I, we are building a great relationship. I thought about it and I decided I wanted to be a trailblazer.”
Did you commit on the phone to Coach Buckley?
“I committed to the whole staff. I talked to Coach (Peter) Sirmon (defensive coordinator) and I called my coach to tell him.”
What was the reaction of the coaches?
“They were jacked. They are ready for me to come to campus. They want me to play this fall.”
How did you feel at that moment when you verbally committed?
“I felt great. I’m happy I don’t have to worry about recruiting anymore. I don’t have to worry about recruiting and now I can focus on school and my team.”
When you got on the phone with Coach Buckley did you know you were going to commit to MSU?
“It just kind of happened. I was thinking about it. I wanted to go to MSU and I did not want to wait. Why not commit now?”
Do you plan on recruiting other players to join you in Starkville?
“Oh yeah, no doubt. I have a handful of players I’m going to recruit.”
Can you release the names of the recruits?
(Pauses) I gotta keep it a surprise.”
How are you going to pitch the other players to join you at MSU?
“I’ll tell them how great the coaching staff is and how we will be there and run the city like how south Florida players always do.”
It is early, but do you plan to take all five of your official visits in the fall?
“Maybe, but I’m 100 percent committed to Mississippi State.”
We had just talked about your Top 5 being intact a couple of days before your commitment. Was there a team that made your commitment to MSU tough or was there a No. 2 team on the list that was close to getting your commitment before MSU?
“Before I was about to commit to LSU. It crossed my mind but I wanted to go to MSU. I want to be a trailblazer from south Florida to Mississippi State. I want other players to know me as that guy that started the trend of going to MSU from south Florida.”
Tyler, thanks for your time today and, again, congratulations on your commitment to Mississippi State.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: pittsburghsportsnow.com; No. 19 Tyler Dunning.