Prep notes: Quarterback or safety -- which one is Cam Dyer? He answers.
Mar. 6—Cam Dyer, the La Cueva High School quarterback, recently posted on his social media account of same-day scholarship offers to Arizona State and the University of Utah.
The offers were not exactly the same.
Arizona State, like most of the schools that have extended an offer to the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Dyer — and that number is up to 10 — want him to play quarterback, or at least have those designs at current.
Utah differed: It recruited Dyer at the safety position. But Dyer said he'd prefer to be an offensive player.
"I've always seen myself scoring touchdowns, rather than taking away touchdowns," he said. Dyer did not play defense for the Bears last season. He did, however, lead La Cueva to the Class 6A state championship, and was particularly devastating running the ball in November.
Texas Tech is the only other school that has not specifically recruited Dyer as a QB, he said. The Red Raiders are recruiting him more as an athlete, something similar to what the University of New Mexico did with West Mesa quarterback Elijah Brody.
The other schools that have offered Dyer seem to be eyeing him as a QB. That list includes New Mexico, New Mexico State, UTEP, Utah State, Nevada, Louisiana-Monroe and Dartmouth.
Utah has definitely been trying to plug into that La Cueva pipeline. The Utes several years ago signed former La Cueva standout receiver Connor O'Toole, who eventually became a defensive end for the Utes and is beginning his senior season in Salt Lake City.
Dyer is the third La Cueva junior to receive an offer from Utah. Linebacker Mason Posa and offensive tackle Mark Handy also have offers from the Utes.
Dyer said he already is busy lining up official visits later this year. Arizona State and Texas Tech are already planned, and Utah and Nevada might join that list soon, Dyer said.
When he finishes this basketball season with La Cueva, Dyer, who plays guard for the Bears, said he'll balance his spring schedule between track and field, where he is a sprinter and long jumper, and 7-on-7 football action. Dyer said his top priority this offseason is to sharpen his skills as a passer.
"I would say everyone knows I can run the ball and can make plays with my feet," he said. His passing acumen? "I don't think everyone believes in that," Dyer said.
LAS CRUCES TRAGEDY: Samantha Bursum, a freshman volleyball player at Las Cruces High School, was killed last weekend in a car crash in Texas.
The crash happened about 9:30 p.m. Friday near Pecos, Texas, She was on her way to a club volleyball tournament in Midland, Texas.
Bursum was 14 years old. The SUV in which she was a passenger crashed into another vehicle on Interstate 20, traveling east.
Las Cruces Public Schools Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz issued this statement:
"Our hearts are with the Bursum family and the Bulldawg community. Right now, we are focused on how to best support them in their grief. We are devastated by this loss, and send our love to Samantha's family, including her older sister who was also one of our LCPS students."
IN THE DESERT: La Cueva and Rio Rancho both traveled last week to the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions in Bullhead City, Arizona. It is one of the most prestigious softball tournaments not just in the western half of the country but nationwide.
The Bears, widely considered the strongest challenger in Class 5A among the metro area schools, split six games on their trip. La Cueva won its first three games, and lost its last three. Five of the six teams the Bears played were from California, and all three losses were to California schools.
Rio Rancho, another of the teams in 5A expected to contend this season, finished 1-4 in Arizona.
THIS AND THAT: The brackets for the upcoming Albuquerque Metro Baseball/Softball Championships are expected to be announced early next week. Metros take place the week after state basketball ends.
