Top-100 sophomore earns Gators offer: 'It seems like a place I would play.'
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It has been an offseason to remember for four-star offensive lineman, Blake Miller, as over a handful of Power Five programs joined the fray by extending scholarship offers of their own.
The latest program to take that next step in Miller's recruitment is the University of Florida, which came calling with the pleasant news on Tuesday. Joining Kentucky and Tennessee, the Gators are the third SEC program to offer the 6-foot-6, 305-pound sophomore.
"I know that they have a history of producing NFL talent," Miller told GatorsTerritory. "For example, Emmitt Smith and Tim Tebow to name a few. I like (offensive line) coach (John) Hevesy from his first impression. It seems like a place I would play.
"It was a pretty brief conversation," Miller added. "From talking to him, it seems like he has the personality of a coach I like. He also has a lot of experience coaching."
Miller, a product of Strongsville (Ohio) High, suits up at offensive tackle on the prep level and believes he would fill that exact role in Gainesville. However, considering his rugged style of play and consistency in the run game, this is a young man who could eventually slide inside to guard as well.
You also have to take notice of Miller's football IQ and ability to dissect defenses, so it's no surprise he is already making a splash on the national scene.
In addition to the SEC schools, Miller possesses offers from Michigan, Arizona State, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Indiana and Rutgers among others.
"I’m pretty sure they want me at tackle," Miller said of the Gators. "I’m really confident in my run blocking. Our school is mostly run, so I have plenty of practice. I think my pass set it good. I would like to work on my screen blocking."
As expected, the Midwest native is taking a wait-and-see approach in terms of journeying out to college campuses. Florida has expressed interest in rolling out the red carpet but will obviously have to wait until the dead period is over.
"They said they would love to have me down. I definitely would visit," Miller said of UF. "I still don’t have a definite list of schools I want to visit."
Is there one suitor, or a few, currently soaking up Miller's attention more than others?
"Michigan really stands out to me," Miller said.
With that being said, how much will proximity play into Miller's final decision roughly two years from now?
"I don’t care in the slightest about distance from home," Miller said. "All I care is that the place is a good fit."
Michigan, Clemson, Notre Dame, Northwestern and Indiana are schools that welcomed Miller to campus over the past 12 months.
Stay tuned to GatorsTerritory.