Miller made plays for Vols
Matt Miller was always thinking about making the next play.
Whenever opponents would break a big gain offensively, Miller and his Starkville Academy teammates were ready for their opportunity.
“We have to be the one to make the next big one,” Miller said during the season.
If there was ever a definition of a playmaker, it would be Miller.
Miller had 220 total tackles this past season for the Volunteers with 113 of those being solo stops.
“He made plays anywhere and everywhere we needed him to,” Starkville Academy head coach Chase Nicholson said.
With his stellar play on defense and leading the Vols to the MAIS Class 5A Championship game, Miller has been chosen the Starkville Daily News Area High School Defensive Player of the Year. He was also selected MAIS Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year.
Miller was not only an excellent linebacker, but he was also asked to run the football and catch passes on offense at Starkville Academy.
His versatility along with being a captain and veteran presence on the team made Miller a special player for Nicholson and his staff.
“Absolutely tremendous leader on both
sides of the ball,” Nicholson said. “He really has a nose for the football and is a smart player who really understands the game.”
Last season wasn't Miller's first rodeo with the Vols. He made an impact for three years and collected nearly 500 tackles during that span.
“He's a guy who has played a lot of defense for us,” Starkville Academy defensive coordinator Brad Butler said prior to the championship game. “Even as a sophomore, he came in and played at a high level.”