Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/847744
P E N N S T A T E F O O T B A L L >> Sandwiches • Salads • Spuds • Soups • Sweet Tea HUB-Robeson Center • On-Campus mcalistersdeli.com he ic w nd a S • s ad al S • s u o S • s ud Sp T t ee w S • s p u a e T with the loss of a sibling and role model. In the aftermath, he wasn't even sure he wanted to leave for college. "That was my best friend," Miller said. "He was at all my games, and now he can't watch me in col- lege. That still bothers me to this day." Eventually, Miller made the trip to Happy Valley, finding himself in an idyllic college town so unlike the often-danger- ous urban environment that had been all he knew. "It was hard when I first got up here – I thought it was boring, nothing to do," he says now. "But once I got adjusted, it's good. The people are nicer, ain't noth- ing negative up here. It just takes some getting used to." It helped that he had football to focus on, but that focus was sometimes diffi- cult to maintain without Saturdays to look forward to. The redshirt that he eventually came to appreciate was a chal- lenge at first; Miller wanted nothing more than to be on the field. As he waited for his chance, he tried to learn all he could, particularly from Carl Nassib, whose ex- ample was an inspiring one. "Just seeing that guy's motor, how he mastered his craft, his pass rush, and how hard he worked, I took that and tried to do the same," Miller said. He would have to wait until the fall of 2016 to show what he had learned, his promising debut in last season's home opener tempered by James Franklin's postgame challenge. "He doesn't practice like that," Franklin said afterward. "If he would understand and embrace that, he could have an unbelievable career here." Miller seems to have taken the critique to heart. He spreads around the credit for his improvement since last season: the influence of Sickels and Schwan, the en- couragement and coaching of Sean Spencer, and his own commitment to better preparation, from the practice field to the weight room to the film room. An early payoff came in April, when Miller registered two sacks and three tackles for loss in the Blue-White Game – a per- formance that Spencer himself all but predicted during the spring. "He's becoming a leader in that room, running to the ball, doing things and working hard," the D-line coach said. "He's a big effort guy. He's always been that way since he's been here, and he has really taken his game up to the next level." Miller appreciates his position coach's praise – and the pushing that preceded it: "Coach Spencer has helped me with a lot of stuff, just helped me understand the game. He's been on me. He's still on me, and I just know he wants the best for me. I told him I want him to push me so I can reach my full potential." That potential is impressive, and Miller knows it. Describing himself as "a motor guy, a high-tempo, energy type of guy," he's focused now on combining that nat- ural drive with a more studied approach. "I want to be a game-changer," he said. "My family, and my brother who's not here – that's my motivation. That keeps me going, and I've still got a lot of work to do. I'm not satisfied with where I'm at." ■