Career: Started eight career games and played in 46 games overall (linebacker and special teams) ... One of the team's hardest working and smartest players ... Brought a tremendous attitude to the defense ... Closed career with 69 tackles and a forced fumble ... Named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2009.
2008: Recipient of team's Carnig Minasian Citizenship Award (awarded to a player who has been an outstanding citizen) ... Made two stops against Southern Illinois ... Totaled four tackles vs. Duke ... Credited with two tackles at Iowa, and was responsible for the initial tackle on Iowa RB Shon Greene before Brad Phillips delivered a bone-crushing hit and a caused fumble ... Three tackles vs. Michigan State ... Collected four tackles vs. Purdue and three stops at Indiana ... Named team's defensive practice player of the week vs. Indiana ... Recorded two tackles against Ohio State ... One stop vs. Illinois ... Two tackles in 2008 Alamo Bowl vs. Missouri ... Academic All-Big Ten ... Named to NFF's Hampshire Honor Society.
2007: Academic All-Big Ten ... Recorded a career-best 11 tackles (six solos), TFL and key forced fumble against Nevada ... The fumble, which NU's Marshall Thomas recovered, came in the fourth quarter with Nevada on the NU 17-yard line ... One tackle in season-opening win vs. Northeastern ... Six tackles, including a 0.5 TFL, versus Duke ... Two tackles at OSU ... One tackle vs. Michigan, Minnesota, Eastern Michigan, Purdue and Illinois.
2006: Academic All-Big Ten .. One of team's top reserve linebackers ... Started first three games ... Notched four tackles at Miami (Ohio) ... Credited with a solo tackle and a pass breakup vs. New Hampshire ... One tackle vs. Eastern Michigan ... Two solo hits at Nevada ... Notched a 0.5 TFL at Penn State ... Three tackles vs. Wisconsin ... One tackle vs. Purdue ... Had one tackle at Iowa ... Registered two tackles vs. Ohio State.
2005: Played in final 10 games and was a key member of multiple special teams units ... Totaled five tackles, including a 0.5 TFL (vs. Arizona State) ... Had a pair of assisted tackles playing in his native state vs. Ohio State ... NU's Defensive Practice Player of the Week vs. Northern Illinois.
High School: SuperPrep All-Midwest Region linebacker and running back ... Ranked 57th by SuperPrep among Midwest (six states) players and 30th in Ohio ... Cleveland Plain Dealer All-Ohio Division II first team, Cleveland Plain Dealer All-Cuyahoga County first team, All-Northeast Ohio first team, Sun Newspapers first team, North Coast League first team and Northeast Lakes District first team ... Voted team's "Most Outstanding Player" and "Best Offensive Back" ... Totaled 81 tackles, an interception, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2004 ... Rushed for 964 yards (162 carries, 6.0 ypc) and 16 touchdowns as a senior ... Had 956 yards (4.6 ypc) and 11 TDs in 2003 ... Started as a sophomore, but broke his leg in season's second game and did not return that year ... In 2003, helped lead the Bruins to their first playoff appearance in nine years ... Played in 2005 East-West All-Star football game ... Featured student in Cleveland Magazine (September, 2004) ... Tabbed Padua Franciscan's "Mr. Bruin" (school's best athlete) ... National Latin Exam Summa Cum Laude ... National Merit Commended Student and Who's Who ... Class salutatorian ... Biology and Latin Department award recipient ... Also lettered in basketball and track and field ... First-team all-conference track selection ... Parma Amateur Athletic Federation Scholar-Athlete ... Coached by Tom Kohuth.
Personal: Born Michael Joseph Dinard ... Son of Michael and Tracy Dinard ... Double major in psychology and philosophy.
Dinard's Career Stats
TACKLES G UA A Total TFL-Yds PD FF FR Blkd2005................ 10 1 4 5 0.5-1 0 0 0 02006................ 12 8 8 16 0.5-1 1 0 0 02007................ 11 11 14 25 1.5-3 0 1 0 02008................ 13 8 15 23 0.0-0 0 0 0 0TOTAL............... 46 28 41 69 2.5-5 1 1 0 0