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It took two years for Florida linebacker Ventrell Miller to see significant snaps on the field. But now that he’s gotten his chance, Miller has become a leader of the Gators defense. In 2020, he tallied 86 tackles, which is 18 more than anyone else on the team.
Because of that production, two summer football magazines listed Miller as Second Team All-SEC. Some early 2022 NFL mock drafts from USA TODAY and Yahoo Sports have him selected in the first round. Bob Redman of Swamp247 called the 2021 season a contract year for Miller because he has the opportunity to prove he’s worthy of a first-round pick in 2022.
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When he first arrived in Gainesville, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the three-star prospect from Lakeland, Florida. Miller was suspended his whole first year at Florida because of his involvement in the credit card scandal. Then his head coach Jim McElwain and defensive coordinator Randy Shannon were fired. Miller felt like he had to start all over again.
His current linebackers coach Christian Robinson shared a story with the media right before the 2020 season began that he remembers in 2018 when Miller came into his office upset and asking for an opportunity to play.
Robinson told him that he’ll get his chance but also told Miller that he needed more confidence fitting blocks and covering some receivers. He took that next year to work on those skills and then became a starter in the 2019 opener versus Miami, where he recorded two sacks and made a big play with the game on the line.
“He’s an older guy and been here a long time,” sophomore Andrew Chatfield said about Miller, according to Swamp247. “He knows how the game is played. “He knows what’s going on. A good leader, you see what he did last year, he was a big help in that defense. I think our linebacker group is going to be really OK. We are actually going to be fine.”
Despite the recognition he has earned, Miller is determined to keep his nose to the ground and keep working because he has unfinished business that he’s trying to complete.
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