Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio) junior quarterback
Braxton Miller ended months of speculation about his college future this afternoon when he announced at a news conference at the high school that he has orally committed to play at Ohio State.
Miller, who is 6 feet 2 and 185 pounds, is rated the nation’s top quarterback and the No. 8 player overall in the 2011 class, according to the
MaxPreps Top 100.
Braxton Miller
Photo by Wayne Litmer
Miller is also considered to be Ohio ’s top player in the class.
Miller’s high-profile recruiting journey was followed closely by the media and college football fans around the country. He also had scholarship offers that included Alabama , Florida , University of Southern California , Notre Dame, Cincinnati , Illinois , Michigan , North Carolina , Wisconsin and West Virginia , according to published reports.
Miller reportedly narrowed his choices to Ohio State, Florida, Notre Dame, Georgia and Alabama before choosing the Buckeyes, according to the
Dayton Daily News. Miller is the 12th player to orally commit to Ohio State from the 2011 class.
“(Ohio State) just reminded me of my hometown and Wayne,” Miller told reporters.
Miller plans to graduate early from high school and enroll at Ohio State for winter quarter in January 2011, according to the
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Miller will again be the leader for Wayne this upcoming fall. He has accounted for 50 touchdowns in three years as starter for the Warriors, according to the
Dayton Daily News. Miller has 2,628 yards passing and 938 yards rushing during his high school career.
“Braxton separates himself from other quarterbacks in two main areas,” says Mark Porter, director of
ScoutingOhio.com. “His arm is noticeably stronger than most kids his age playing football and his speed quickness ratio is much like that of a tailback or wide receiver. This gives him a skill set that is very unusual for a young prospect. Throw in the prototypical height for a QB and you have one great package lined up at QB.”
Porter said Miller will be versatile in several ways at the college level, including the ability to run the option attack, the zone read scheme, the spread, West Coast, drop back and to run bootlegs. He said Miller will develop into more of a throwing quarterback as his career progresses.
Wayne (7-4 in 2009) was co-champions with Centerville for the Greater Western Ohio Conference Central division title. Wayne won four of its final five games to end the season.
This upcoming season, Porter said Miller could easily rush for 1,000 yards and pass for up to 3,000 yards in the offense that Wayne operates. Every time Miller gets the ball, there is an opportunity for a video highlight during that play.
“He has a skill set (that) lets him adapt to any college offense and be extremely successful right from the get-go,” Porter said. “His skill set reminds some of Michael Vick or even (former West Virginia quarterback) Pat White.”
