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.”
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Barney...there has never been a child rapist play for OSU (child rape carries a mandatory 25 yr. sentence in Texas, so obviously Mr. Collins could not be charged with child rape) but since the kid is headed to OU maybe Granger can help him with his shopping and personal finances while dusty shows him the proper way to try to beat your "best friend" to death while drunk and high on cocaine
Chris, you may be right. Perhaps we can have Eddie mentor him and teach him how to drive drunk and piss on schools. Dexter Manley can teach him how to go to school for four years without being able to read (and OSU people try to sell us that their school is better than OU when it comes to education).
Matt, Mark Clayton wasn't even a blip on the recruiting radar. Joe John Finley,Tashard Choice,John Williams,Larry Birdine,Chris Messner,J.D. Runnels,Calvin Thibodeaux,Jason White,Sam Bradford,Q. Griffin need I go on. All were three star players who have made their mark on OU football. Players like AD do not come along everyday. So you keep looking up at the stars going ooooooohhhhhhh and everyone else will recruit players down to earth. BOOMER SOONER!!
Those who think stars don't matter are living in a fantasy land. How many Jacob Gutierrez's would you take over Adrian Petersons? 5 stars don't guarantee a successful career, but it's a better indicator than a lot of people like to acknowledge. Do you think that OU has turned down more than a handful of 5 star recruits who wanted to come to Norman? BTW, my comments have nothing to do with this recruit, who I hope has a fabulous college career. If OU offered him right off the bat, he must have something special.
I have said this many times......I would take a hundred Josh Heupels over one Rhett Bomar. The recruiting services aren't always right. Look at KU basketball. Every time a player signs with KU he becomes this great player according to the recruiting services, even if he was only average in the recruiting rankings before he signed. Look at Jamar Mosey (sp?)...big time recruit that never saw the field at OU. I never get hyped over recruiting. I save my cheering for when they actually take the field.
The best players in college football didn't have five stars folks. Maybe the player doesn't have the coaching, or they think he would be alot better in another position. Take Ronnell Lewis for ex. He played safety most of the time. But he does have good size and speed for a linebacker. We'll see how that turns out. I do know after watching him he can run with the ball. No doubt about that. 8 man or not he can fly. Heart and desire outplays stars everytime. Look at what Kansas did last year with three star players! BOOMER SOONER!!! P.S. Jerry Rice wasn't a five star player either.
Relax. The kid had offers from AZ and KS. Doesn't appear to be some five-star. Now, the Pokes evaluation may not prove to be right. But you can't want everyone just because OU does. Relieve yourself of that OU envy.
OU football notebook: Hughey likely to leave team,... 03/07/2008 Hughey likely to leave team, graduate early OU backup center Noah Hughey is not participating in spring drills and doesn't plan to rejoin the team, his...
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Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.