Senior Bowl 2016 Interview – Braxton Miller

Braxton Miller – WR (Ohio State)

Interview Date:  1/27/16 – (Post-Practice Press Conference Interview)

Measurables: 

Hgt:  6’ 1 ⅜”

Wgt:  204lbs.

Hand:  9 ⅛”

Arm:  31 ⅞”

Wing:  6‘ 1 ⅝”

PROFILE:  In 2011, as a true freshman, Miller took over the starting quarterback duties in the fourth game of the season and went on to earn the Big Ten Conference’s Freshman of the Year award.   The following year he led the Buckeyes to just the sixth unbeaten, untied season in school history – 12-0 – with a school-record 3,310 yards of total offense.  He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting that year, and he was a finalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.  In 2012 and 2013 Miller won the Chicago Tribune’s Silver Football Most Valuable Player trophy as the Big Ten’s MVP, becoming the first repeat winner of the award in 24 years.  He also repeated in 2013 as both the Big Ten’s Quarterback of the Year and the Offensive Player of the Year.  Miller missed the entire 2014 season with a shoulder injury but returned for his Redshirt Senior year in 2015, making the position switch to H-B.  At the conclusion of the season, he earned Honorable mention All-Big Ten honors at the H-B position.  Miller holds the Ohio State record with 88 TDs responsible for in his career (passing, rushing, receiving) and his 8,609 yards of total offense ranks No. 2 all-time in the Buckeye record book.

On the fact that at the end of the January 27^th practice, he seemed to come off the field with some type of leg injury and whether there was a major concern about it.

It felt good being out there running around non-stop, going to special teams, going to individual drills, to team 7-on-7, then going to punt, then catching punts after practice.  You know, I think I would call it a little dehydrated, my calf was cramping up a little bit so I just pulled up.

On what he thinks separates him from other receivers in this draft class considering his multiple skill set.

You know, it’s all season.  I felt great, but now I feel even better to show you guys what I’m capable of playing inside receiver, outside receiver going against the best DB’s in man coverage and beating them.  You know you put in the time and determination in how you want to perfect your craft, it shows on the field.  So that’s what I’ve been doing for the past two weeks.  At the Fiesta Bowl I know that I had to go to the Senior Bowl and I had a lot of things I wanted to check off leaving the Senior Bowl.  The thing was, I want to show them that I could play outside receiver, that I can beat any man coverage, separation speed, the strength, you know, running the crisp route how they want it to be run. 

On the fact that he weighed in at 204 llbs., which is down some from what he weighed when he was playing quarterback, and what that feels like for him at the wide receiver position.

It feels a lot better, especially my legs.  The difference is a lot more energy, a lot more explosive.  I feel like a receiver now, just the way my body is right now.  At first I was 215 and I was kind of struggling with the condition of my legs.  I was getting acclimated to playing receiver from quarterback and at first I was trying to maintain 215.  You know it’s a good weight but, I still wanted to maintain my energy level to get through practice to get through a game.  That wasn’t working out in camp so I had to shed a lot of body fat, a lot of pounds to get into shape to be a receiver.

On having to make a mental transition to the receiver position in addition to the physical transition and whether any part of him still thinks of himself as a quarterback.

Nah … from now on, I’m a receiver!  That’s how I think. The thing I really want you to see at my position all I want is to be the best that I can be.  The sky’s the limit and I’m still working on my craft everyday.  I’m working here with the Cowboys coaching staff – helluva coaching staff!  Especially working with the receivers coach, he’s a great coach man and I’m just learning from him now.  I’m picking up everything.  Some of the stuff comes naturally and some of the stuff, you’ve gotta work on, like technique-wise.  That’s what I’ve been doing after the Fiesta Bowl.  All technique, make sure you know, I get my hips down, make sure I punch my route to where I need to be and accelerate out and get your hips down and come back to the ball to where the quarterback wants you to be at.

Elaborating on Derek Dooley, the Cowboys wide receivers coach.

The way he coaches the game, I love it.  The way he coaches techniques, the way he gets his players to be ready for a practice.  The way he goes over the practice, the routes.  Guys weren’t out there confused … he’s an amazing coach.

On how much he has heard from NFL personnel people and scouts on possible unique ways he can be utilized in different packages and schemes.

Yeah, it’s just bringing a different type of aspect to the game.  I feel like every team needs a playmaker.  They’ve mentioned you can do it all.  Being back there as a punt returner, being in the backfield being a decoy, playing inside and outside.  It’s a great feeling being able to do that stuff and still learn at the same time.  God willing, I pray for things like this and just work at it and be the best I can be. 

On the fact that he had probably gone up against Noah Spence when Spence was at Ohio State and what his thoughts are about how good of a pass rusher Spence is.

He’s a great pass rusher.  He’s fast, especially fast off the line.  He’s a gifted D-End and he can play linebacker I feel like.  We had our times man.  He got me, I got him a few times.  Going against the best will make you into a different type of player.  He’s a great guy. 

– And on whether he’s pulling for Spence after all the things he’s gone through –

Absolutely! I never lost my faith in Noah.  You know, I think he probably got caught up in the … partying, just being immature.  But he’s a great guy.  Other than that he just needed to clean it up and that’s what he did.  I’m sure he learned his lesson, showing who he is.  We stayed in contact the whole year.  I talked to him saying I can’t wait until we go to the Senior Bowl and actually show what we’re about – things like that.  We had a lot of goal stuff for each other.  Seeing him smiling and being happy again … it’s like he’s my little brother so it makes me feel good that he’s overcoming obstacles that he faced.

On which defensive backs got his attention through the first couple of practices.

My man from Minnesota (Eric Murray) – he’s very aggressive!  I asked him, how many flags did you get this year?  Just going competitive – sometimes you might get a hold, might get a push-off.  But we’re cool out there.  It’s him and that dude from Virginia (Maurice Canady).

On how he would describe what type of player he is to NFL fans.

I’m a team player.  Whatever the team needs, I’m going to succeed at.  Whatever the coaches ask me to do, I’m going to make sure I take the coaching in and make sure however they want that route to be run, I’m going to run it exactly how they want it to be run. 

On how hard or tiring this Senior Bowl process has been on him.

It’s not tiring – I love it man!  I’m just blessed to be here, absolutely playing the game that I love. 

On what it will feel like wearing the Ohio State helmet one last time in the Senior Bowl game.

Feels great man!  Everyday!  Feels great seeing the Buckeyes representing on Saturday one more time.  There’s a couple of guys out there wearing the Buckeye helmet for one last time.  It’s a blessing man, that school is amazing.  Went through a lot of situations and overcame them.  Just wearing it feels great – there’s a lot of thankful things going on wearing that helmet one last time.