Early enrollee hopes to get on fast track
Stratford grad Miller hits the ground running as Northwestern freshman
Most seniors opt for rest and relaxation during the holidays, preparing themselves for the high school stretch run.
Sam Miller stayed busy packing for a 1,000-mile move to Evanston, Ill.
The Stratford defensive lineman graduated before Christmas and enrolled early at Northwestern, where he’s already attending classes and participating in winter workouts since arriving Dec. 31.
“I really wanted to get up here and get to work,” Miller said.
More and more student-athletes are taking the same track, enrolling early so they can take part in winter and spring workouts and get a leg up on the competition going into their freshman seasons.
Miller doesn’t think it’s a necessity, but he believes it was the right choice for him.
“I just had to double up on my core classes, and I was able to knock out all my required credits to graduate early,” he said. Family foundation
Miller received his first college scholarship offer from North Texas in May 2015.
Texas Tech offered soon afterward, and the 6-3, 260-pound defensive lineman ended up with nine offers — with many more schools showing interest — between that spring and the end of his junior season.
But his heart belonged to the Wildcats.
Older brother Alex Miller, who graduated in 2016, also is at Northwestern, where he saw action in 13 games last season.
“My brother being here definitely was a big factor, but the combination of academics and playing in the Big Ten made it the total package,” said Miller, who verbally committed in January 2016.
The opportunity is a dream made real for a kid whose dad Greg played at Nevada-Reno and who imagined himself playing in the college ranks since receiving his copy of NCAA Football ’06. It’s the result of good genes, hard work and, above all else, top-notch technique.
“(Sam and Alex) play with such great leverage and their hands are so good, and Sam’s are probably as good as I’ve ever been around, with playing behind his pads and good hand placement,” Stratford coach Eliot Allen said.
“He’s quick, he’s explosive, and overall he’s probably, if not the best defensive lineman we’ve ever had, certainly right there tied with them.” Versatile combination
Sam Miller played every defensive line position dur- ing three varsity seasons, but he primarily stayed at end, where his combination of athleticism, explosiveness and technical ability were well-suited.
He notched 86 tackles, eight sacks and one forced fumble as a senior.
Allen believes the Stratford standout will continue to come off the edge as a high-energy pass rusher at Northwestern.
“With a defensive tack- le, they like a more sturdy, take-on-a-double-team kind of guy, and at the end you’re looking for a guy who can bend and get around the edges, and has a little bit more speed and athleticism,” Allen said.
“And for what they do defensively, he possesses what they’re looking for.”
Miller agrees with his coach.
Recruiters quickly recognized his size and ath- leticism, but his motor and technique clinched a college roster spot.
“The biggest things are high energy and high motor, and also how explosive you are and how you use your hands,” Miller said. “That’s a big thing for Dlinemen — how well you can use your hands to get off blocks.
“You don’t have to be the strongest guy. Your leverage and your hands do ev- erything.” Ready to go
Miller is doing everything he can to get on the field as a true freshman. His brother did it, so he’s determined to keep up and hopefully play alongside Alex again next season.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “It’s going to be crazy.”