So when the Garland Naaman Forest tailback returned from a visit to Texas, a teammate made a suggestion.
"It's time to repaint those walls,” he said.
Not burnt orange.
The Austin visit helped Miller scrap the Longhorns from his short list. No, it's time to repaint those walls crimson and cream.
Miller committed to Oklahoma on Wednesday, just a week after receiving a scholarship offer from Sooner running backs coach Cale Gundy via phone.
"He told me as soon as he saw my highlight tape, he wanted to offer me,” said the 6-foot, 180-pounder. "Texas signed five other running backs and the Aggies haven't really shown interest, so I made the decision to come to OU.”
Sight unseen.
Miller has yet to set foot on campus in Norman — he's trying to schedule a visit to spring practice next week — but that didn't seem to affect the Sooners' status as the workhorse tailback whittled down his list.
"I knew I wanted to stay close to home,” Miller said. "Texas Tech's passing offense wasn't for me, Texas A&M and Texas wanted other guys. Oklahoma State only sent me letters on holidays.
"It was easy to pick OU, I just had to go over it with my dad.”
It didn't hurt that Miller's idol is a former Sooner. Adrian Peterson also spurned the Aggies and Longhorns to attend Oklahoma.
"I think my strengths are acceleration out of the backfield and my north-south running style,” said Miller, who had 253 carries for 1,984 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior. "I want to play the way (Peterson) did.”
Miller said he plans to visit OU several times between now and National Signing Day 2009, attending "as many games as possible” this fall.
Miller's high school coach, Bill Patterson, said, despite the early commitment, Sooner coaches didn't have to worry about Miller de-committing.
"Unless Bob Stoops leaves or something crazy like that, Jonathan will be signing next February,” Patterson said. "The recruiting process for them is done.”
