Baker University head football coach Mike Grossner has signed Dillon Baxter, former running back at the University of Southern California and San Diego State University.

“I flew into San Diego this weekend and signed him on Sunday,” Grossner said.

Grossner credited Rolando Rivera, a contact he has from the San Diego area, in helping him sign Baxter. Rivera coached Baxter at Mission Bay High School, where he was the 2009 National High School Player of the Year before going to USC.

“Dillon committed to (USC) as a freshman in high school,” Grossner said. “He was the National High School Player of the Year coming out of high school. He’s a pretty talented individual.”

While Baxter comes to Baker as a highly-touted running back, Grossner envisions utilizing him in other ways as well.

“I anticipate at times that we will line him up in the backfield and hand him the ball and I think his true calling now, and down the road if he works hard, is as a slot receiver type guy,” Grossner said. “There is going to be some Wildcat (formation) stuff. He was a quarterback in high school and really likes playing that position … He’ll also be a kick return and punt return type guy as well.”

Sophomore quarterback Jake Morse is excited to incorporate Baxter within the offense.

“You know, it is exciting for the program,” Morse said. “It is going to be national news, but it is exciting for the program and we’re looking forward to getting him in to come in and learn everything. We feel like if he comes in and learns that he’s going to chill well with the rest of the team and be an impact player for us.”

In 2010, Baxter played 10 games for the Trojans, rushing for 252 yards and a touchdown. He only suited up for four games in 2011 before USC head coach Lane Kiffin declared that Baxter was not a member of the team so he could focus on academics.

Baxter then transferred to San Diego State, but was dismissed from the program in February by head coach Rocky Long for “a variety of things,” according to a report from USA Today.

“Dillon is a good kid,” Grossner said. “We’ve talked quite a bit about what the future holds and how we need to attack it … some of the scrutiny he is going to take in the public eye as far as going from being the No. 1 player in the nation and starting at USC as a freshman to attending an NAIA school in Baldwin City, Kansas.”

Grossner believes coming to play at Baker will be, “a perfect fit for him.”

Baxter will have three years of eligibility left to play two seasons for the Wildcats.