Not much went right for the Florida Gators’ defensive unit during the 2020 season. While the offense was setting records and torching opposing teams, the defense often prevented Florida from truly breaking away and roundly outclassing them, and it eventually cost the team a trip to the College Football Playoff. It would be unfair to say the whole unit was a failure, though.
One of the bright spots on the defense was a breakout season from linebacker Ventrell Miller. The former three-star recruit found a starting role on the Gators in 2019 and never looked back. In 2020, he led the team with 52 solo tackles, tied for the team lead with 34 assists, and also managed to collect 3.5 sacks. As a redshirt junior, Miller has little left to prove in the NCAA. His future lies in the NFL, and he is expected to declare for the 2021 NFL draft.
To be honest, Miller doesn’t have much of a reputation as a professional prospect in national circles. NFL Draft Network places him as the 204th player on their list of 2021 draft prospects and ESPN left him off their list entirely. Clearly, he has shortcomings, but being left off a publicly available list with over 100 days until the draft is far from a death knell.
Odds are, if he wants to be a pro, he’ll find a home as one of the 256 drafted players or as an undrafted free agent. Almost every team could use more depth, but the Detroit Lions stand out as an organization that could be a match for Miller.
NEXT: How Miller fits in Detroit