As the regular season has ended and we are about three weeks from the College Football Playoff, now is a great time to learn about the Ohio State football team’s future prospects. Here are my takes on four-star quarterback Jack Miller.
During Jack Miller’s freshman season at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, he was ranked as a top two quarterback prospect by most scouting services. Throwing for 3,653 yards and 53 touchdowns, having all the tools such as prototypical size (6-3, 210 pounds), arm strength and a great football IQ made him one of 2020’s fastest rising recruits.
Since then, a series of injuries that hindered his performances at the Elite 11 camp and limited his on-field availability has caused his national ranking to plummet. Now, as a four-star recruit Miller is the No. 14 ranked pro-style QB according to 247Sports.
None of that should worry Buckeye fans however. Head coach Ryan Day absolutely believes in Miller and it was reported by 247Sports he and co-offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich were going out to Arizona to visit him.
And as Miller prepares to sign his letter of intent and enroll as a Buckeye in January, he has been steadfast in his commitment ever since he made his verbal in July of 2018. Even as rumors swirled of another QB commitment in the 2020 class, Miller has always said that he welcomes the competition. This from Letterman Row:
"“I don’t really care who they bring in,” Miller said in April. “I will compete with anybody.”"
Miller’s commitment didn’t even waiver through a head coaching change. It was Urban Meyer whom Miller was committed to but Ryan Day built a relationship with Jack over time as it was still a no-brainer for Miller to play for coach Day, via the Toledo Blade:
"“It really had no impact,” Miller said. “Of course, I wanted to play for coach Meyer. But I’ve always felt really comfortable with coach Day. I’ve had such a great relationship with him since my freshman year. I want to play for him, too, so I’m comfortable. I never changed my mind about anything. Everywhere I visited after Ohio State just didn’t really compare. Since my freshman year, I was always comparing schools to Ohio State, and no school really competed with him.”"
Miller is a kid that checks every box you want in a good quarterback. Big, athletic, strong-arm and by every report out there is a hard worker. His high school head coach, Brent Barnes can’t say enough good things about him, as reported by the Toledo Blade:
"“He’s really good,” Chaparral coach Brent Barnes said of Miller. “It’s hard to put into words sometimes. I’ve been fortunate to be around a lot of really good ones, too. And I’ve had some that could really play the position and understood it. From a skillset standpoint, he’s one of the best I’ve been around. The way he spins it, the accuracy, and he’s still pretty mobile for a big guy.”"
Buckeye fans should love his skill set and the perseverance of this kid. Having to work through multiple injuries during his high school playing days has made him mentally tough. Couple that with the fact that he wants and has always wanted to play for the Scarlet and Gray and you have all the ingredients for a perfect match.
That is why I believe come 2021, after a season of sitting behind and learning from future first round NFL draft pick Justin Fields, Miller will be ready to take the reins.
He will have to compete, first with whom ever else Ohio State brings in with the 2020 class, probably fellow four-star quarterback CJ Stroud. Then with 2021 commit Kyle McCord, but I love the make up of this kid.
And being the hand-picked QB of both Urban Meyer and Ryan Day for the 2020 class of recruits has to count for something. Two of the greatest quarterback coaches of their generations see something special in this kid. They just don’t miss on quarterbacks they really want.
As Justin Fields is likely a two-year and done player for Ohio State, Jack Miller is going to get his chance as sophomore to win the starting job in 2021. With the tutelage of Day and Yurcich, I’d be shocked if he didn’t take the opportunity and excel with it.