Despite the logjam at the quarterback position at Ohio State, Braxton Miller’s quarterback tutor, George Whitfield, said Miller never entertained the idea of leaving Columbus.
“He’s a Buckeye,” Whitfield said at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, per the Columbus DIspatch. “He’s one of those kids who had Ohio State wallpaper growing up.”
Miller, a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, recently began throwing after missing the 2014 season with a shoulder injury. He watched from the sideline as redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett led the Buckeyes to 11 regular season wins and redshirt sophomore Cardale Jones led the team to a national title following Barrett’s ankle injury.
Now, with all three returning, Whitfield says Miller is ready to throw his hat back in the starting quarterback ring. And no, Whitfield says, Miller never had a thought about switching positions.
As far as his rehab goes, Whitfield said Miller is long-tossing and sends him video clips of his progress twice a week.
“He’s looking stronger, getting more and more fluid,” Whitfield said. “I just love the progress he’s making.”
Whitfield fully anticipates Miller returning to form heading into the summer.
“One hundred percent, and I don’t say that lightly,” Whitfield said. “When the summer hits, and those guys begin summer workouts, he’ll be 100 percent.”
Whitfield has been working with Florida State’s Jameis Winston and Baylor’s Bryce Petty. Winston, the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, is projected by many to be the top pick in May’s NFL Draft. But if Miller had played last season, Whitfield says he would be right there with Winston.
“If Braxton Miller was healthy and had a chance to play and be the older, more improved version of Braxton Miller with the normal rate of grown, he’d be up on the podium with a couple hundred microphones in his face asking him how it feels to be considered among the top of the draft.”
The quarterback battle at Ohio State will certainly be one of the biggest storylines heading into the 2015 season. Barrett, who broke his ankle on Nov. 29 in the season finale against Michigan, recently had screws removed his surgically-repaired ankle. Ohio State hasn’t offered a timetable for his return.
Jones, who threw for 742 yards and five touchdowns in three postseason games, considered declaring for the NFL, but decided to return for his redshirt junior season.
For more Ohio State news, visit BuckeyeGrove.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
