With football fall camp almost a month and a half away, one of NC State’s top players in its class of 2016 will finally get a chance to show what he can do.
Redshirt freshman weakside linebacker Brock Miller was routinely brought up as one of the redshirts who performed well last year by the NC State coaches. He was named the defensive scout team player of the year, gained some valuable weight and made the transition from a different role that he played at John Carroll Catholic High in Fort Pierce, Fla.
Miller knew if he did well this past spring, the coaches would notice it. It proved to be a different environment compared to just trying to give the offense a “good look” on scout team.
“It was definitely a lot different this spring,” Miller said. “It makes you come to practice with a different mindset [knowing he could play]. You are coming here ready to work and not just give a look. It motivated me a lot more.”
Rivals.com rated Miller a three-star prospect in the class of 2016, but his recruitment got intense down the stretch. The Wolfpack beat out Virginia Tech on July 30, but that didn’t stop other colleges from coveting Miller, who played outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme at John Carroll. NCSU held off Florida, Miami (Fla.) and Ole Miss during his senior year to sign him.
“Florida came in probably during the beginning of the football season and then Miami at the end, with Ole Miss right before signing day,” Miller said. “It is kind of cliché where you say signing day is a weight off your chest, but it was. You have all these coaches calling you.”
NC State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Dave Huxtable recruited Miller out of high school, and now is coaching him in college. Miller’s loyalty to Huxtable proved to be the difference.
“It was tough but at the end of the day, I made the right choice and can’t complain,” Miller said. “He recruited me hard. He came to basketball games and even came to basketball practices. He was calling me every day and Face-Timing me.
“That played a big role knowing he was the overseer of everything. You knew he was going to be there and is established.”
NCSU head coach Dave Doeren’s defensive background also proved advantageous in securing Miller’s commitment.
“He was really good friends with my high school coach,” Miller said. “I was able to talk to Coach Doeren early and build a relationship with him.”
Miller had a dominant senior year, tallying 139 tackles, 65 tackles for loss and 25 sacks in just 12 games. He even found time to catch 24 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns, and rush 20 times for 106 yards and three scores.
“I was a stand-up defensive end, so I was off the edge almost every time,” Miller said. “It was just crazy. It is a lot different here because there I didn’t have any responsibility. I just came off the edge and went to get the quarterback. Here, it is read everything.”
Miller said the biggest adjustment to playing weakside linebacker at NC State is dealing with the congestion and how much he had to learn last year.
“You are like the quarterback of the defense, so you have to learn everybody’s position,” Miller said. “At defensive end, you just knew yours and maybe another defensive line spot. At linebacker, you have to make the calls and get the checks and tell everyone.”
Miller spent his freshman always focused on whether he was gaining weight. He was about 211 pounds when he arrived and exited the spring listed at 6-foot-3 and 228 pounds. He hopes to reach the 235-240 range.
“It has been all hands on deck,” Miller said. “Everyone is helping me out with it. I’ve been having a hard time in the past gaining some weight, so I’ve been getting help from the nutritionist, weight room people and I’ve been having my meals sent.”
Miller’s first step this fall is to make an impact on special teams.
“Sometimes you just have to wait your turn,” said Miller, who declared that he could be the fastest linebacker on the team. “That is what I’m doing. I’ll make the most of it, especially on special teams.”
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