Miller Excited About 2010
July 20, 2010 10:22 AM | General
July 20, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - When Julian Miller first came to West Virginia University three years ago, he didn’t look like a Division I defensive end, much less the talented defensive end he would become.
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| Junior defensive end Julian Miller is excited about the 2010 campaign set to begin with the start of fall camp on Friday, Aug. 7.
Pete Emerson photo |
“Not only did I come in wearing the number 84, but I looked like I should be wearing the number 84,” Miller joked to reporters. Hard work, ambition and intense effort have helped Miller gain both strength and speed, qualities that greatly enhance the effectiveness of a defensive end.
“Looking back and seeing a change like that makes me proud of myself and proud of this program,” commented Miller. “It’s encouraging to see younger guys who are going through things now, like trying to get bigger, working really hard.”
Miller started all 13 games last season, and was named second-team all-BIG EAST by Rivals.com and third team by Phil Steele. He ranked No. 4 in the BIG EAST in sacks and tied for No. 6 in tackles for loss, while ranking 30th nationally in sacks and tying for 54th in tackles for loss.
He also saw action on more than 785 plays, including a season high 84 plays at Auburn, and 81 plays against UConn. Miller also led the Mountaineers in sacks, with nine on the season, and tackles for loss, with 14.
The ability to make big plays like these, and a solid contribution to a strong defense have helped elevate Miller to a leadership role amongst some of the younger players in the locker room - a role that Coach Bill Stewart has been stressing to his players since the end of the 2009 season.
“I know that Coach Stewart has been stressing leadership all summer, actually starting at the end of last season and this past spring, and I’m starting to see guys stepping up and becoming leaders,” said Miller. “Myself, I’m trying to play a team leadership role.”
Miller has found success in promoting a leadership style that emphasizes actions speaking louder than words. He believes that the best way to instruct younger players is by letting them watch the actions of older and more experienced players, while also talking to them and encouraging them during weight room sessions and practices. While he believes that having a teaching attitude and that aspect of the game is also necessary, observing other players in action can really put important skills and lessons in perspective.
“Going out there, doing what the coaches ask you to do, working out hard and everything, letting the younger guys and people behind you see what you’re doing, how hard you’re working, can definitely help guys get going and motivated,” Miller remarked.
This year, Miller thinks the team as whole has been coming together a lot better than it has in past summers, due in part to a strong overall focus on football, while ignoring distractions from things happening outside of football. He believes that everybody has built into, and gone along with, the program, with every team member putting forth a maximum effort.
“I keep telling the guys this, this is the first year I’m actually really, really excited for fall camp. Times before, I knew I was excited because the season was starting, but now I’m excited for more reasons than just the season starting. I’m excited to get out there and see what all this working out all summer is going to come to, and see how the team is going to look especially after all the hard work we’ve put in,” Miller stated.
Fall camp officially gets underway on Friday, Aug. 7.
