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AMES – Iowa State’s Tyler Miller remembers how daunting it was to start on the Cyclones’ offensive line for the first time as a redshirt freshman in the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl.
Miller noticed two Clemson players coming off his side of the ball, but it was too late. He was supposed to call out to his teammates before the play unfolded to get some help.
But he couldn’t even get the words out of his mouth. So the play went on just as Clemson’s defense hoped it would, using the mismatch on Miller that ended with a loss of yardage in Iowa State’s 20-13 loss to the Tigers that day.
“It was a bad deal,” Miller said.
Miller, now a senior, has grown a great deal since that game. He is part of an offensive line that is expected to be a much-improved group in 2024. Miller is once again expected to play a major role.
“We have guys playing multiple positions,” said Iowa State offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Ryan Clanton. “We have guys playing with confidence. We have a group in the O-line room that loves and respects each other.”
Miller, a 6-foot-9, 335-pound lineman from Scranton, is one of those guys with versatility and confidence. It stems from what has already turned into a long and successful career. After redshirting his first season in Ames, Miller played in four games in 2021, primarily on special teams.
Iowa State offensive lineman Tyler Miller waits for the snap against West Virginia on Nov. 5, 2022.
The three-star recruit out of high school was thrown into the deep end for Iowa State’s postseason game against Clemson that season. He credits the extra time preparing for the bowl game and the leadership of veterans Trevor Downing, Colin Newell and Derek Schweiger for helping him make the transition.
“It was definitely a little nerve-racking at first,” Miller said. “But usually once you get the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-state-senior-tyler-miller-104522056.html
Author : The Des Moines Register
Publish date : 2024-04-12 10:45:22
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