Drelon Miller embraces new role in Colorado’s offense

Deion Sanders has always been outspoken on a principle. If you can play, you will play regardless of whether you are a freshman or a graduate student. That mentality became the cornerstone of his coaching philosophy at Colorado and is starting to pay off for freshman true receiver Drelon Miller.

While the college football spotlight has largely been on freshman phenoms like Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Alabama’s Ryan Williams, Miller is charting his own path to stardom. The four-star recruit from Texas late in the season is making a strong case as one of college football’s rising stars.

Coming out of high school, Miller received critical acclaim, being rated by Rivals as the nation’s 39th best player, 12th best wide receiver, and Texas’ 9th best player. Miller, a product of Silsbee, Texas, caught Sanders’ attention; Sanders’ connections in Texas and his recruiting prowess were instrumental in winning over a large audience of talent. Trusting Coach Prime’s vision for the Colorado program, Miller took the leap and it began to pay off in his first season in Boulder.

Miller’s freshman campaign started modestly. In his first nine games, he recorded 19 catches for 110 yards and a single touchdown; This was a solid but unremarkable stat line for a player of his pedigree. But Miller’s breakthrough came in Week 12 against Utah, where he had his best performance yet. In that game, he had six catches for 108 yards and a touchdown, nearly equaling his total production in the previous nine games. His impressive outing earned him the highest grade among true freshmen of the week, according to Pro Football Focus. The momentum carried over to the next game against Kansas, where he added five catches for 44 yards, including a key touchdown pass to quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

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Miller’s style of play sets him apart. While he doesn’t have the explosive speed of teammates like Travis Hunter or LaJohntay Wester, he brings a unique skill set to offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s system. With his 5-foot-11 height and physical playing style, Miller has drawn comparisons to former Colorado standout Laviska Shenault and NFL stars like Deebo Samuel and Xavier Legette. He excels at contested catches, can outrun defenders, and while he doesn’t have elite speed, he shows the ability to create separation. His versatility makes him a valuable asset who can fill multiple roles on offense.

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With one regular season game remaining, a guaranteed bowl game and the possibility of making the Big 12 Championship, Miller will have more opportunities to showcase his development and talent. Beyond this season, his future in Boulder looks even brighter. With his improvement in the weight room and more experience during the offseason, Miller has the potential to be Colorado’s leading scorer next year. As he continues to hone his skill set and build chemistry with Shedeur Sanders, Miller is poised to play a key role in the Buffaloes’ resurgence under Coach Prime.

Miller’s journey during his freshman season reflects Coach Prime’s philosophy of giving opportunities to those who deserve them. His emergence as a reliable and dynamic playmaker is a testament to his hard work, natural talent and the trust his coach has in him. The future is truly bright for this promising youngster from Texas.