Back in August, Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller sustained a shoulder injury in practice that has sidelined the former Heisman hopeful throughout this entire season.
Although Buckeyes’ head coach Urban Meyer said that Miller — the ‘2013 Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year award winner — was “our guy” back in September, redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett has helped lead Ohio State to an undefeated record in-conference this season. With that in mind, it’s understandable why rumors would be flying about Miller wanting to transfer out.
Much like Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson, who transferred from North Carolina State to Wisconsin as a graduate student, Miller could pursue the same avenue, and be eligible to play immediately.
Several days ago it was rumored that the 6’2″, 215-pound Huber Heights, OH native was interested in transferring to Oregon, but internal sources in Columbus shot initial reports down by saying Miller hadn’t had any contact with the Ducks.
I was interested to hear how the story would play out on Wednesday, but it looks like it’s likely not going to happen; that, or everyone at Ohio State and Oregon is keeping tight-lipped about the subject for now.
Oregon’s star quarterback Marcus Mariota graduated last Spring, but enrolled in golf and yoga for the Fall semester, so unless some cataclysmic or bizarre event happens, he’s all but guaranteed to declare early.
Although Miller’s illusive style and versatility would fit in nicely with the Oregon offense, it seems like he’s either better off staying put and competing for his starting job back in 2015, or opting out and declaring for the Draft.
The 2015 NFL Draft will be stockpiled with quarterbacks, but I’m sure Miller is thinking it would be a lot easier pleading a case to NFL scouts and general managers that he’s 100 percent healthy after five months of strength training and conditioning. Alternatively, he could be thinking that if he stays in college for another year, any shot at turning pro hangs in the balance of whether he can stay healthy or not.
Given the youthful depth on the Buckeyes’ roster, if Miller requests an NFL Draft evaluation report and he’s given a favorable projection, he could declare and put the rumors to rest for good.
Stay tuned.
*Section Photo credit to Andy Lyons, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Marvin Fong, Cleveland Plain Dealer
