Looking back, it almost seems silly to think Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer would enter training camp with a three-headed battle at the quarterback position.
He spoke often about giving equal opportunities to each Braxton Miller, Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett to win the starting quarterback job once camp opens Aug. 10, but now that Miller told Sports Illustrated of his intentions to try his hand at wide receiver and H-back it puts at least one-third of that battle to rest.
"You can use him at wide receiver, H-back, slot back, running back, punt returner, kick returner — get him on the field in whatever way. Once the ball’s in his hands, he’s dynamic."– Phil Steele on SportsCenter Friday
Frankly, it was the only realistic move a player the caliber of Miller could make.
There was never space for three supremely talented and decorated signal callers in Ohio State's quarterback room. Miller had every right to believe he could win back his old job — after all, he won a pair of Silver Footballs playing quarterback — but for his future, changing positions is the best move.
It's also best for Meyer's program as a whole. Miller's abilities with the ball in his hands speak for themselves, especially when you consider he led the Buckeyes to 24 straight wins from 2012-13 as one of the more special players in college football. If he is able to get a handle on running routes and catching the football in traffic, Miller adds depth to an already loaded position at Ohio State.
"For Ohio State, you’re getting one of the most dynamic athletes in college football," noted college football savant Phil Steele said on SportsCenter Friday morning. "You can use him at wide receiver, H-back, slot back, running back, punt returner, kick returner — get him on the field in whatever way. Once the ball’s in his hands, he’s dynamic."
Miller had his future in mind when he decided to pull the trigger and open his mind to the possibility of playing a new position. He wasn't going to make at the next level playing quarterback, even if his surgically repaired shoulder would eventually get back to 100 percent.
That's not a slight to him, but Miller was always a less than willing passer at Ohio State, instead choosing to use a variety of juke and spin moves in order to move the chains and score points. He missed the entirety of two spring practices of development at the quarterback position, a key note to consider when you look at his progression throwing the ball.
"I think it not only really enhances Ohio State’s offense this year, but it enhances Braxton Miller’s draft status," Steele said. "He does not project as an NFL quarterback, but with his athleticism, he projects to the NFL. So he can give them a sample size of what he can provide once he gets to the NFL."
Moving to wide receiver or H-back makes sense for him. It makes sense for his future. It also makes sense for Ohio State.
"Braxton Miller can play wide receiver as long as he wants to play it,” wide receivers coach Zach Smith told SI. “His speed, strength, talent, commitment and, really, lifestyle will allow him to be like Joey Galloway. It’s going to be a matter of how quickly he grows into the position, but the sky is the limit for him.”
Miller's had plenty of experience toting the ball.
Miller admitted it's been "awkward" catching the ball instead of throwing it in recent months, part of a huge transition to the position that is also going to involve running routes and taking hits from defenders looking to off a star player.
It'll be a major adjustment, but those closest to Miller — like Meyer, Ohio State Vice President and Director of Athletics Gene Smith and high school coach, Jay Minton — have all told Eleven Warriors how impressive it is to see him work diligently at whatever he sets his mind to. He's an über athlete worth the price of admission just to see make defenders look foolish in the open field.
He'll likely get plenty of opportunities to do that in 2015, and even though he enters and already crowded wide receivers room, Meyer is bound to get the guy he adores the ball as much as he can. It also can help put the head coach's mind at ease a bit, now only have to decide between two great quarterbacks instead of three.
Plus, if Miller's shoulder heals properly in the next two months like it is scheduled to, Meyer, quarterbacks coach Tim Beck and offensive coordinator Ed Warinner now have a pretty decent arm encompassing another position.
"It’s going to be electric," Miller told SI. "We had a great season last year, but we didn’t see anyone do off-the-wall type stuff. I’m sure guys miss seeing an explosive, 60-yard shake-and-bake run every once in a while."
On paper, it looks like it certainly will be exciting, but it also looks like a major win-win for Ohio State.
