The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

Skinny: Miller has a ton of buzz coming into this draft and will certainly find his way to a handful of sacks but how many total tackles is up in the air, especially with his lack of experience playing in coverage.  He’s a great athlete but don’t be surprised if his role is a little more simplified at first.  Bottom line - He’s just too good of an athlete to leave out of the Top-10.

2010: Coach Mike Sherman has shown great confidence in Miller’s abilities, as he has asked him to play several roles all over the field. Last year, splitting time between defensive end and outside linebacker, Miller led the nation with 17 sacks. He sat out of spring practice with a concussion, which is sure to get looked into with the new NFL concussion policies enacted.

SCOUT'S TAKE

The Butkus Award semifinalist is in many ways the first and last line of defense for the Aggies; he’s dominant enough to shutdown the opposition’s passing game with his disruptive abilities. To take advantage of Miller’s playmaking skills and versatility A&M will move him around the defense, as the hybrid defender has lined up at almost every position in the front seven. Miller is truly a terror to deal with is when he is rushing the passer. In 2009 the Texas native led the nation with his 17 sacks, which also happened to be one more than the entire Aggie defense registered in 2008…that’s the type of impact he can have. Many believe the linebacker is the most athletically gifted player on the Texas A&M roster. He does more than just sack the quarterback, looking to make the strip when he does get there (four forced fumbles) and getting his hands up when he doesn’t (five passes defended). Tipping the scales at 240 pounds Miller is clearly light in the pants for a 3-4 linebacker. He has excellent size for college defender but not the pros. His draft stock will have to contend with the fact that there are going to be bigger, stronger, and faster players at his position. While he has done fine work at the college level playing with his hand on the ground at times, it’s hard to imagine Miller providing much production playing in the trenches against NFL offensive linemen. Yes Miller is undersized, but his instincts as a pass rusher will make him a hot commodity come draft week. Whether it will be as a first or second round pick remains to be seen.

NEWS

12/09/10 - Texas A&M's Von Miller has won the Butkus Award as college football's best linebacker. Miller finished the regular season with 59 tackles, 34 solo, forced three fumbles and recovered two, and was defensive captain for the 9-3 Aggies, who earned a postseason trip to the Cotton Bowl. He led the Big 12 in sacks for the second straight season with 9½. One of the fastest linebackers in the country (estimated 4.55 forty-time), Miller is currently ranked as the No. 3 outside linebacker according to the NFL Draft Bible Big Board, which includes draft-eligible underclassmen.

01/12/10 - Following a heap of soul-searching over the holidays and a few strokes of his keypad on Wednesday, Von Miller endeared himself to Texas A&M fans forever. Simply, “Miller Time” is back for a final round after the nation’s sack leader let thousands of Aggies know via Facebook he intends to pass on the NFL draft and return for his senior season. “It’s important to me and my family to earn my degree from Texas A&M,” said Miller, whose sack total ranked second in school history to Jacob Green’s 20 from 30 years prior. “This will put me much closer to that goal. I can’t leave A&M right now.”