Texas landed their first 2017 commitment on Thursday when Tyler (TX) John Tyler wide receiver Damion Miller pledged to the Longhorns. Miller committed quickly after he picked up an offer from the Longhorns while visiting earlier this summer. He ranks at number 21 on the HornSports 2017 Top 50 and chose UT over offers from Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Houston, SMU, and Oklahoma State.
Especially with Hezekiah Jones’ commitment to Baylor, Miller represents an important pickup – he is among the elite receivers in the state. It’s also noteworthy to see Texas winning in East Texas following the offseason hire of Jeff Traylor. John Tyler HS plays in one of the toughest districts in the state, so concerns about Miller’s level of competition are not a factor.
Texas has success in spades at recruiting the wide receiver position and that trend now continues into 2017. A big time commitment also gives the Longhorns some needed recruiting momentum after sputtering a bit in the summer.
Film Analysis
Miller has a lengthy, lean frame (6’2, 205 pounds) with long arms and room to add weight. A versatile two-way player for John Tyler who can also line up at safety, Miller’s future is at the receiver position.
With a blend of quickness and size that allows him to play inside or outside, Miller is a home run threat who can score from anywhere on the field. Possessing good short area burst with smooth acceleration to create space in the short and intermediate game, Miller also has an after burner to easily create separation on deep routes and get behind the defense.
Miller is a natural pass catcher who does well in traffic and shows great skill when tracking the ball over his shoulder. His body control and leaping ability make him a threat on jump balls, and the East Texas star doesn’t mind mixing it up physically with defensive backs. As is the case with most high school receivers, Miller’s route running is a little rough around the edges, but his path of development is exciting.
Final Verdict
For Texas fans it’s fun to dream about what Miller’s development and maturation. A prospect with his size and athleticism, with two years of high school development still ahead of him, is a rare commodity. With the size college coaches covet and dynamic playmaking ability, Miller has an extremely high ceiling. If he realizes his potential, Miller could be an All-American type talent with a chance to go high in the NFL draft.
