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WR Braxton Miller (B1G POY, National Champion)

tBBC looks at Braxton and Terrelle, particularly the expectations both had as freshmen:

Recruiting Hype

When Terrelle Pryor takes the field for the first time with the team this spring, he won?t be the only signal caller rocking the ink. He might not even have the best block O ink on the team.

In fact, for the first time since he enrolled at Ohio State University, he might not be in the topic of the backfield to start the season. The fact is another top recruit is taking the campus by storm.​
 
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BRAXTON MILLER

True freshman quarterback Braxton Miller will be in the mix with the others vying for playing time in the spring while Terrelle Pryor nurses right ankle surgery. Tressel needs to find someone to play the first five games.

Tressel watched Miller play in the Division I state title game at Fawcett Stadium. Miller?s team, Huber Heights Wayne, lost to Lakewood St. Edward.

?I was impressed with just his evenness,? Tressel said. ?He didn?t seem to get too high or low. Three-and-out? He went to the sideline and wasn?t disheveled. If they scored a touchdown he wasn?t overly dramatic about, ?Oh we?ve arrived? or ?This is easy.?

?The game takes on a different world when the Silver Bullets are flying at you in spring practice. St. Ed?s was awesome, but when you start having those guys flying after you ? when those pads go on I would answer that question then.?

http://www.cantonrep.com/sports/x17...ains-support-for-moving-HS-finals-to-Columbus
 
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Published: 4/10/2011
Miller makes case in QB competition
OSU excited about freshman's potential
BY MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

braxton-miller-ohio-state.jpg

Braxton Miller, who took his Huber Heights Wayne team to last year's Division I final, is one of five candidates to replace Terrelle Pryor.
THEOZONE.NET/JIM DAVIDSON

terrelle-pryor-braxton-miller-ohio-state.jpg

Terrelle Pryor, right, is recovering from foot surgery and is suspended for the first five games, so he has spent a lot of time this spring mentoring Braxton Miller.
THEOZONE.NET/JIM DAVIDSON

COLUMBUS ? Braxton Miller was a marked man even before he arrived on the Ohio State campus, billed as "the next great Buckeye quarterback."

Miller had a large "Block O" and a cluster of Buckeye leaves tattooed on his left shoulder long before he made a formal commitment to play for Ohio State. He enrolled early, was in classes in January, and now, as Miller goes through his first spring practice with the Buckeyes, he is drawing a lot more attention for his play than for his extensive ink work.

Miller is the most intriguing member in the five-player field of candidates who are vying to replace Terrelle Pryor as Ohio State's starter for the first five games of the 2011 season. The Buckeyes' month of spring practice is the informal auditioning period for Miller and the others, and Saturday's hour-long scrimmage was a rare opportunity to show their stuff in a game-like format.

Pryor, who is being held out of contact drills this spring while he recovers from surgery on his injured foot, is one of five Buckeyes who will sit out the first five games while serving an NCAA-mandated suspension. That resulted from their involvement in the sale of OSU memorabilia and game wear in exchange for cash and discounts on tattoos.

With Pryor and his anticipated senior season run at the Heisman Trophy shelved, that opened an unexpected window for the "next" Ohio State quarterback. While senior and two-year backup Joe Bauserman likely has the inside track on paper, based on head coach Jim Tressel's long-established allegiance to his veterans, Miller has been a constant topic of discussion and intrigue.

So far, Tressel has not tipped his hand as to which of his stable of quarterbacks he is leaning towards, and he did not take questions from the media following Saturday's scrimmage. After Bauserman and Miller, there's Kenny Guiton, Taylor Graham, and Justin Siems. At this point, it appears that Miller, Bauserman, and Guiton are ahead of the other two.

"I think repetitions at that [quarterback] position are important," Tressel said as the Buckeyes opened spring workouts. "[Miller] coming in early and getting those reps is huge. I'm talking everyday in practice and every individual drill and every perimeter drill, every drill throwing one-on-one. You can't beat experience."

As expected, Bauserman started spring drills working with the number one offense, while Miller was down with the threes and fours. Miller knew he would have to climb the ladder once the Buckeyes moved out of the weight room and onto the practice fields.

"It's just an opportunity," he said earlier this year. "Just got to get the job done, do the work, and see who wins it out."

Cont..

http://toledoblade.com/Ohio-State/2011/04/10/Miller-makes-case-in-QB-competition.html
 
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Not to get too far off track here, but if Pryor is listed at 6'5-6'6 (ish) - that picture puts Braxton around 6'3? I remember hearing conflicting reports of his height ... so that just sprung to mind.

Either way I'm just excited for the S&G game. Looking forward to seeing Miller run the offense.
 
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Miller still lost?

Asked about his quarterbacks 12 days ago after four spring practices, coach Jim Tressel told ESPN.com that freshman Braxton Miller "was lost."

Last weekend, through seven practices, Brewster was asked what he thought of Miller's progress.

"Trust me, from a center and a quarterback standpoint, by that fourth week is when you kind of start grasping things," Brewster said. "He's kind of getting a grasp on some of the calls, the reads. But it really is hard.

"I just try to remember when I was a young guy. I was lost out there, just like everybody else the first few times. You've got to give the guy credit for sticking in there and trying to understand just a little more each day."

http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...inemen-trying-to-fill-many-holes.html?sid=101
 
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OSU Spring Game | Miller's moment
Freshman quarterback directs three TD drives while running simplified offense
Sunday, April 24, 2011
By Ken Gordon
The Columbus Dispatch

If simplifying the scheme is what it takes for quarterback Braxton Miller to feel comfortable, then Ohio State might consider carrying over the "Just Go Play" offense into the fall.

After struggling to grasp the nuances of college football throughout much of spring practice, Miller, an early-enrolled freshman, flashed his considerable playmaking potential yesterday in a controlled scrimmage in front of 44,276 in Ohio Stadium.

Miller directed three scoring drives in his four possessions, helping the offense to a 59-27 victory over the defense. He led a 92-yard touchdown drive, threw a 15-yard TD pass to cap another drive and avoided sacks and turnovers.

He completed 7 of 12 passes for 73 yards and added 19 yards rushing on four carries in the scrimmage, which wrapped up spring practice.

This is what Ohio State fans had been waiting to see from Miller, who was rated one of the best quarterbacks in the class of 2011. "I think he just played today, and I don't think he's really had a chance to do that," said center Michael Brewster, who said Ohio State kept the offense "pretty basic."

"I was curious to see how he has going to do and I told him, 'Man you did a good job today. I'm proud of you,' " Brewster said.

Coach Jim Tressel said he thought Miller "played a little bit more relaxed and had a little bit more fun than he has, in part because we really limited what we were doing."

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/04/24/millers-moment.html?sid=101

Wayne graduate QB Miller impresses Tressel, team veterans
By Tom Archdeacon, Staff Writer
Updated Saturday, April 23, 2011

COLUMBUS — He may have been the last of the four Ohio State quarterbacks to get to play in the Scarlet vs. Gray Spring Scrimmage, but Braxton Miller was the first one head coach Jim Tressel talked about afterward:

“I thought Braxton played a little bit more relaxed and had a little more fun than he has had.”

Among the quartet competing for the starting job in the season opener, the celebrated freshman quarterback out of Wayne High School made the biggest strides forward Saturday afternoon.

Although all four candidates threw touchdown passes in the gerrymandered competition between the offensive and defensive units — and Taylor Graham had a breath-taking 68-yard TD strike to T.Y. Williams — Miller showed well in several areas.

He was the only one of the four to complete over 50 percent of his passes (7-of-12 for 73 yards). He was the one who led the offense on a long, sustained drive (14 plays, 92 yards and a score) and he showed an elusiveness running the ball (4 carries, 19 yards) while fellow candidates Joe Bauserman and Graham were sacked a combined seven times for minus-40 yards.

Cont..

http://www.daytondailynews.com/dayt...-impresses-tressel-team-veterans-1143898.html
 
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I've got to say that from a fundamentals standpoint, I was really impressed with Braxton. His drops looked good, his arm strength looked good, his progressions even looked good. We all knew about his athletic ability and if he can continue to improve between now and September, I don't know how we keep him on the bench. This kid looks very capable of managing the offense, which will rely heavily on the run game no matter who's in there.
 
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Jon Gruden witness to Braxton Miller's Spring Game debut
By Michael Periatt
[email protected]
Published: Sunday, April 24, 2011

1025742064.jpg

Lauren Hallow / Lantern photographer

Quarterback Braxton Miller runs outside the offensive line during Ohio State's Spring Game on Saturday. The offense won, 59-27.

"They've got a hot-shot guy in here from Dayton. No. 5 is all I know. Braxton is his name. He's pretty darn good."

That's what NFL analyst and Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden said about Ohio State freshman quarterback Braxton Miller after spending Wednesday and Thursday watching the team practice. Gruden was the keynote speaker at Friday's coaches clinic.

The skills that earned Gruden's lofty praise were on full display Saturday during OSU's annual Spring Game.

Miller completed seven of 12 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, and also led the offense on a 14-play, 92-yard touchdown drive.

Coach Jim Tressel took notice.

"I thought Braxton probably played a little bit more relaxed and had a little bit more fun than he has had," Tressel said.

Cont...

http://www.thelantern.com/sports/jon-gruden-witness-to-braxton-miller-s-spring-game-debut-1.2190466

Will Braxton Miller be the OSU starter?
[email protected]
Posted: 04/24/2011
By Tom Archdeacon

COLUMBUS ? It was like a passing of the local torch Saturday afternoon in the Horseshoe.

When Braxton Miller finally trotted on the field wearing those shiny silver shies ? and carrying all that golden quarterback promise ? he was surrounded by other Dayton-area Buckeyes who once had made their name on this very same Ohio State football field.

Standing on the sidelines amongst the other OSU alums who gathered to watch the Scarlet vs. Gray Spring Scrimmage were Keith Byars, Nick Mangold, Kurt Coleman and Ross Homan. Up in the radio booth was Jim Lachey.

It certainly seems that Miller ? the OSU freshman just a few months removed from Wayne High ? could one day join that pantheon.

The question now is how soon will he get a chance to begin that quest?

With much trumpeted ? and now tainted ? OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for peddling memorabilia for cash and tattoos, the Bucks are looking for a replacement.

The four candidates vying for the spot ? fifth-year senior Joe Bauserman, redshirt sophomore Kenny Guiton, redshirt freshman Tyler Graham and Miller ? all got a chance to show their wares in Saturday?s gerrymandered competition between the offensive and defensive units.

Although all four threw touchdown passes ? and Graham had a breath-taking 68-yard TD strike to T.Y. Williams ? Miller showed well in several areas.

He was the only one of the four to complete over 50 percent of his passes (7 of 12 for 73 yards). He was the one who led the offense on a long, sustained drive (14 plays, 92 yards and a score) and he showed an elusiveness running the ball (4 carries, 19 yards) while Bauserman and Graham were sacked a combined seven times for minus 40 yards.

Miller certainly comes in with the most hype. Depending on the recruiting services, he was either the No. 1 or No. 2 quarterback coming out of high school. He led Wayne to the state title game ? putting on a jaw-dropping, one-man, four-touchdown show in a close loss to Lakewood St. Edward ? then graduated early so he could enroll at OSU in the winter.

But no matter how high your skill set is, the transition from prep to college quarterback is tough when you just have 14 spring practices and then Saturday?s scrimmage to do it.

Although several of OSU veteran players acknowledged that Miller is on a steep learning curve, they all had praise for him after his showing Saturday.

?Today I was really proud of him,? said senior center Mike Brewster. ?We shrunk the playbook because we didn?t want to show all our stuff and I think he was really comfortable with it.

?Braxton is a guy who improvises , who uses his natural instincts and runs around and scratches and just makes plays. He?s got a real quick release. I heard the ball come off his hand one time with a ?pwoooof!? and I just thought ?Dang, Man, this guy?s something.??

Cont...

http://m.daytondailynews.com/dayton...vEf&detailindex=3&pn=0&ps=4&full=true#display
 
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I Demand to See Braxton Miller on the Field
thebuckeyebattlecry.com

Following the Spring Game, the quarterback competition remains decidedly unresolved. If anything, the debate over who should start will be more heated now than ever. To put it concisely, Braxton Miller looked too good to keep off the field while Joe Bauserman looked too shaky to be counted on during crunch time in a hostile environment (namely, at Miami).


The simple solution, and the one that a majority of fans will no doubt be on board with, would be to name Miller the starter and roll with it. He can just flat out make plays and he showed it in the spring game. He led some tremendous drives throwing and running the ball, and he looks more than capable of successfully leading the offense.


The downside with Miller would be his inexperience. In crunch time, could he be counted on to protect the ball? To not force plays while driving the team down the field? He could, but expecting true freshman quarterbacks to play mistake free football is a gamble to say the least.

continued...
 
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I'm really hopeful that Braxton will get the nod for the following reasons:

1) Coach Tress started TP as a true Freshman. Arguably BM is more advanced
in the passing game than TP was at this stage. Limit the playbook, insist that he not turn the ball over and he will be just fine.

2) We need a mobile QB. Other than Guiton, neither Bauserman or Graham fit that bill. Guiton knows the playbook better, but I think that BM is the superior athlete and runner.

3) BM is clearly the future. Playing the first 5 games in '11 will be a huge head start for him to take over the '12 season.

4) We will have a very strong running game that the coaches can use to not put BM in difficult situation. Our stable of RB's are truly special. Use BM also in the read/option and it's the best of both worlds.

5) He may just have the best overall arm in the group of QB's anyway. He's a special player. You want to get this kind of athlete on the field. He will be a play maker for us.
 
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