The star quarterback who reinvented himself as a wide receiver
In short: Braxton Miller was a dominant force at Ohio State, racking up massive yardage and Heisman votes. But a devastating shoulder injury during a major bowl game forced him to abandon the quarterback position entirely and learn a new role to survive in the NFL.
From 2011 to 2013, Braxton Miller was the engine of the Ohio State Buckeyes offense. As a dual-threat quarterback, his statistical output was immense. In his sophomore season, he recorded 2,039 passing yards and 1,271 rushing yards, earning him fifth place in the Heisman Trophy voting. He repeated this success as a junior, passing for 2,094 yards and rushing for 1,068 yards, which secured him his second Big Ten Offensive Player of the شہادت award. His freshman year was equally notable, as he earned the CFPA National Freshman Trophy and was named the conference's Freshman of the Year. During that initial campaign, he accumulated 1,692 total yards, driven by 11 passing touchdowns and seven rushing scores.
The trajectory of his career shifted during the 2014 Orange Bowl against Clemson. With just over 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Miller injured his throwing shoulder while completing a touchdown pass to Carlos Hyde. The injury was severe, requiring surgery in the offseason and eventually leading to a torn labrum during practice in February 2015. This physical setback made it impossible to continue as a quarterback. The damage was so significant that he was forced to take a medical redshirt for the 2014 season. This period of recovery also paved the way for other Buckeyes like J. T. Barrett and Cardale Jones to take the helm.
Rather than exiting the sport, Miller transitioned to the H-back and wide receiver positions. This reinvention allowed him to enter the 2016 NFL Draft, where the Houston Texans selected him in the third round, 85th overall. While his professional career saw him compete for roster spots with players like DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller, his ability to adapt from a record-breaking signal-caller to a professional receiver remains a remarkable feat of athletic resilience. Before his professional debut, he demonstrated elite athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine, ranking among the top three performers in the 20-yard shuttle and the 60-yard shuttle. He arrived in Houston on a four-year contract worth over $3.1 million.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Braxton Miller
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