2023 Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 87 Days (Ryan Miller)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The 2023 edition of the Hoosier Huddle Countdown is officially underway! We are counting down from 100 to the beginning of the 2023 Indiana University football season. Each day, we will take a look at one (or two) players on the current Indiana football roster and highlight the player’s role in the upcoming season. Today’s countdown focus is on tight end Ryan Miller.

Name: Ryan Miller

Hometown: Chagrin Falls, Ohio (Kenston High School)

Position: Tight End

Year: Redshirt Freshman

Height/Weight: 6’6”/226 pounds

Tight end can be a very difficult position to master, particularly for a player transitioning from high school to college. Players have to learn a new offensive scheme, they have to learn how to block athletes that are on their level or even greater, they have to learn how to deal with corners and linebackers that are better than they saw in high school. Making that transition while not healthy is even more difficult. Redshirt freshman Ryan Miller is attempting to make that transition after missing most of his senior season to injury and missing all of the 2022 campaign with another injury. Now going on nearly two full seasons without seeing the field, the 2023 season is a big one for the redshirt freshman from Ohio.

Ryan Miller played at Kenston High School in Ohio and was ranked the number 23 tight end nationally after an all-conference performance as a junior. Miller also lettered in baseball and is a very good athlete but there have to be concerns about where he will be at physically after the long layoff. Miller is not expected to be a high-level blocker and he is listed as the lightest of the tight ends for the Hoosiers. He projects as a good fit in Walt Bell’s offense if IU’s offensive coordinator can use him as an in-line seam receiver and safety valve for Indiana’s young quarterbacks more than a blocker that you line up as an additional offensive lineman. Miller will be competing for playing time in a very young position group with Sam West, Brody Foley, Aaron Steinfeldt and James Bomba all joining him as underclassmen. Miller is likely starting out fall camp behind Bomba and Steinfeldt but he has every chance to get some snaps if he can prove his worth as a pass-catcher.

The countdown continues with a new profile each and every day so come back to hoosierhuddle.com daily!