Braxton Miller's Rebirth is the Best Thing to Happen to Him and Ohio State

It has been a bumpy road for former quarterback, Braxton Miller, throughout his college career. Not playing a down the entire 2014 season due to a right shoulder injury, it seemed as though his single missed season ended his entire career as a Division 1 quarterback, just one season before graduation.

It was a sudden transition from Miller going down, to his replacement, J.T. Barrett, becoming Ohio State’s newest star. Throwing for 2,834 yards and 34 touchdowns, Barrett did not miss a step in becoming OSU’s leader. Then, 12 weeks into the 2014 season, third-string quarterback, Cardale Jones, took over the Buckeyes’ offense. Maybe it was the Buckeyes’ superior offense, but Jones played just as well as Miller and Barrett, leading Ohio State to a 2014 BCS National Championship. It is unimaginable to think of a team winning a National Championship after losing two starting quarterbacks. But Ohio State proved they could accomplish the unthinkable.

Accomplishing the impossible comes with a price. Ohio State had three quarterbacks that could start at 90% of the BCS teams (no, that’s not an actual statistic, only an expression). All college football fans know that nine out of ten times the young quarterback is going to land the job over an injured senior quarterback. Therefore, Miller was forced to make the decision to change positions. Fortunately enough, Miller made what most likely is his best career decision.

Miller calls himself “the best athlete in college football,” which gave little doubt to whether or not he would strive in his new position at halfback.  He’s one of the most impressive players in the NCAA. The versatility of his athletic abilities has shocked the world of football. He has one of the best football IQs in NCAA. He has one of the best win percentages in the NCAA (75%). There cannot be a logical argument supporting his failure.

In his opening game, Miller showed that all fans of the game had no foundation to doubt his skill. He out-ran, out-hustled, and out-played every Virginia Tech defender as he ran for 62 yards, caught for 78 yards, and scored twice. His performance seemed flawless throughout the entire game. His most impressive, 53-yard touchdown run made viewers stare in disbelief, as he avoided two defenders, then spun past another two on his way to the end zone.

It is evident that Miller fits the role of halfback as well as he vocally expected. Throughout the entire game, you did one of two things. One, you rooted for Ohio State and hoped Miller touched the ball every play, or two, rooted for Virginia Tech to ultimately take the W, but hoped Miller would put on a show and make a play when Ohio State was on offense. He’s become one of the most fascinating players in college football within a single week, all because of a position-change.

 

Fortunately, he’s become much more than the NCAA’s favorite player, he’s become one of the best too. This makes Ohio State, who already came into the 2015 season as the heavy National Championship favorite, an even more dangerous threat. By going from #5 to #1 and taking two steps to the side of the quarterback, Braxton Miller has made Ohio State the best team in the NCAA.

Miller’s role change is, hands down, the second-best move he’s made throughout his career, the first being the spin-move around the second Virginia Tech Defender for the 56-yard touchdown during Sunday’s game. It’s precarious for a quarterback as mobile as Miller to be drafted as an immediate starter or even drafted at all. Most teams would favor the younger player over the seasoned quarterback with high-risk for injury. By moving to halfback, Miller gives himself the best opportunity to make plays and be relied on to use his athleticism. Therefore, his draft stock isn’t going to plunge because of his ability to make plays. This also takes away the doubt about his shoulder injury in 2014. Teams no longer have to worry about weakness in his throwing due to the injury.

If it wasn’t for a shoulder injury that kept him out of his senior season, Braxton Miller might have been a later-round NFL draft pick that may or may not have a successful football career. It’s never enjoyable to see a player get hurt, especially an injury that makes them lose significant time. But Miller’s injury made him the most enjoyable player to watch in the NCAA.

Those two steps to the side may not be the biggest move, but they’ve turned Ohio State and Braxton Miller into the most powerful beings in college football.