Miami Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller is turning pro, which really shouldn’t come as a surprise. If there was any current Cane seemingly ready to make the leap, it was the junior-to-be Miller.
At one point, Miller stated that he’d only head to the NFL early if he were all but guaranteed to be a first round pick. He changed that stance after Miami’s loss to Boston College, the final game in a 6-6 season, stating that he’d need to discuss with his family.
With wide receiver Tommy Streeter and defensive tackle Marcus Forston having already declared, Miller’s pending departure was merely a formality. This one comes as no surprise. Especially considering the short shelf life NFL running backs have.
Plus, look no further than knee injuries to former Cane backs Willis McGahee and Frank Gore, costing both some money on Draft day, McGahee a late first rounder and Gore, falling all the way to the third.
The 5-foot-11, 212-pound Miller was a first-year starter in 2011, with his true breakout game coming week two against Ohio State. Miller carried 26 times for 184 yards against the Buckeyes, including a 54-yard run to open the nationally televised ESPN contest.
Miller tallied five straight 100-plus yard games to start the season, before getting stonewalled at North Carolina (16 carries for 29 yards) and back-to-back, under 100-yard efforts against Georgia Tech and Virginia.
Miller rebounded with 147 yards and two touchdowns against Duke, 92 at Florida State and 50 against South Florida before a 114-yard outing in a loss to Boston College, highlighted by a 79-yard touchdown run — Miami’s longest in a decade.
Could Miller benefit from another year in the system? Sure. Does he dance a little too much at the line instead of committing and hitting the hole? Yes. Will Miami miss him? Absolutely.
That said, he’s arguably the second-best running back in the Draft (behind Alabama’s Trent Richardson) and is a late first round / early second round pick. Based on that alone, there is no other option but to literally take the money and run.
Miami returns Mike James and Eduardo Clements at running back, who truly came on late. Especially in third-and-short situations, where coaches depended in Clement to get the tough yards. Darion Hall also returns as a yet-to-be used back up.
Where things turn exciting for Miami is in regards to “next man in”, barring the 2012 recruiting class shapes up as expected.
Norland High product Duke Johnson is expected to come in and have an immediate impact. The Herald’s Manny Navarro wrote a detailed piece on the four-star Johnson over the weekend and with the departure of Miller, the addition of Johnson becomes that much more important.
Miami also looks to add three-star running back Danny Dillard of Venice and welcomed Pennsylvania four-star prospect Greg Garmon to campus days back for an official visit. With just under two month remaining until Signing Day, the Canes can now aggressively go after another back, with playing time a serious option.
Miller leaving absolutely hurts regarding production, but in the same breath should be taken with a grain of salt as he was a one-year starter. This time last season, the focus was on the loss of impact guys like Graig Cooper and Damien Berry, but Miami’s ground game lived to see another day.
One last note, as if this program needs another reason to work towards relevancy, it’s these early departures. Streeter, Forston and Miller might’ve gone pro early regardless, but it’s easier to sell a kid on returning when your team is in the hunt, as opposed to merely building on 6-6.
Honestly, you think Ed Reed and Bryant McKinnie would’ve come back for the 2001 season if Miami was coming off a six-loss campaign was was nowhere near playing for a ring?
Best of luck to Miller as another Miami running back joins NFL U and will look to make his mark on the next level and for the 2012 Hurricanes – there’s a new opening. Who’s ready to step up and make a name for themselves?
IN OTHER NEWS : With this revolving door regarding more Canes leaving early, hopefully this serves as a lesson in patience for those not wanting to wait their turn.
Last May it was back-up running back Storm Johnson who fled from competition, choosing to take his talents to Orlando where he was a scout team running back for Central Florida this fall. Next year, he’ll work to earn the starting gig.
Maybe it works out, maybe it doesn’t, but Johnson could’ve easily spent the 2011 season in the mix for the Canes, instead of being forced to sit out with the Knights. Back ups James and Clements combined for 357 yards and eight touchdowns in 2011 and are now the front runners for the starting job come spring.
There are some rumors that Johnson was pushed towards a transfer. Maybe. Maybe not. Regardless, there’d have been playing time this past season and with the departure of Miller, some wide open competition for the starting gig in 2012.
For kids quick to run away from competition, hopefully they learn that patience can pay off. The 2011 season breezed by and Miller’s time at starter, the blink of an eye. What seems like a lifetime of waiting, it’s a mental battle one must overcome. Focus on the long term and trust the process. – C.B.
Good luck to Lamar Miller. He is a good running back, but I think he is not great. There was a comment that he was the second best running back behind Trent Richardson. I don’t even think he was the 3rd or 4th best running back in the country.
Maybe I am biased because I would love to see him another year in the college ranks. I think he needs more work, but hey, I am just an armchair quarterback, and what do I know? Just hope Lamar goes to a decent NFL team that doesn’t lean on him only, and wear him down early in his career.
Indeed….LM#6 for president
Any chance you guys will make a mobile version of the site available?
Jacob – We have a mobile version in the allCanes iPhone app and if viewing via Safari in the iPhone, you can hit the ‘reader’ tab, which makes articles easier to view. – C
Any chance for us Android users?
… not for a while, Jim. It was one or the other and we went with the iPhone platform first. Androids are the top selling phone, but still can’t compete with iTunes or app downloads, which are still about 4-to-1 in Apple’s favor. In due time, hopefully.
I don’t think he is entirely prepared for the NFL. He is not a good blocker, he is not tough enough and he dances too much.
However, as Jorge Milian wrote, its better to learn all of these things while getting paid, no?
Another kid who dashes to the nfl to chase money instead of staying college and getting his degree. And yes miller has great speed and break away ability but if you look across board of the nfl no one has a back that is almost done. Trent richardson is going to have to sit behind a guy for a couple seasons and miller is probably going to be back number three on someones depth chart. not exactly the safest place to be in the nfl. The guys all should have taken a look at brandon harris when it came to deciding to leave early. He was a special teams guy this year. He wasn’t on the field playing corner he covered punts. I watched his preseason games and harris got beat a lot proving he was not ready to make the leap and miller sure as hell is not ready to either.
I don’t get how making fourth to seventh round money out weighs having your degree so you get to demand a good salary instead of being told what your going to be paid. I too do not think miller is the best back behind richardson i believe that there are a few in front of him ranging from James from oregon to ball from wisconsin. This was another bad decision by a guy who cared only about himself. If he thinks he is willis mcgahee or portis he has another thing coming. Portis and McGahee were both by far more complete backs than he is.
Here’s to hoping he gets a shot but probably another kid who fails and will have to say i wish i would have stayed in college.
Bad Bad Bad Bad decision miller time. You could have been the best back in the nation next year. Patience is a virtue and apparently not one that number six has. Best of luck miller time.
I hope Lamar puts on a little more muscle cause if he has to run into former canes Ed Reed or God forbid Ray Lewis he`s gonna need it.
No complaints with the kids leaving. Good luck to them in the NFL (or where ever).
Looks like Coach will have plenty of scholly’s available because I see three (on ESPN) more + the usual graduation, leave team, etc.
Let’s hope Coach uses there scholly’s wisely, and dosen’t just Golf Cart up to Norland and post them on the bulletin board. We need National Recruits from non-scramble-ball high schools. (No more Larry C)
What’s the QB situation?