Ohio State’s fifth-year senior football player Braxton Miller announced on July 23rd he will switch from quarterback to wide receiver for the 2015 season. This decision wasn’t made lightly by the former two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner. Concurrent shoulder injuries (and subsequent surgeries) caused him to lose his starting quarterback job last season. And with redshirt sophomore J.T. Barrett, and redshirt junior Cardale Jones filling in admirably in his absence, it was bound to create a heated position battle in training camp.
Miller’s decision will make head coach Urban Meyer’s job much easier when he needs to choose a starting signal caller come September. However, there other factors are at play as well. Here are the reasons why Miller’s position switch is in his and the entire Buckeyes team best interest….
Miller’s Shoulder Injuries Affected His Throwing Mechanics
When Miller announced his decision to move to receiver, he cited his previous injuries as the main reason. He first injured his throwing shoulder at the end of the 2013 season and had surgery that offseason. Then as the 2014 season opener approached, Miller re-injured the same shoulder at the end of preseason practice. He went under the knife again and missed the entire season. He applied for a medical redshirt with the NCAA to gain an extra year of eligibility for this season.
As Miller began training earlier this summer, he noticed that his accuracy, strength and mechanics weren’t what they used to be. Miller decided that it wasn’t physically in his best interest to remain under center.
The Rise of Barrett and Jones
After Miller went on injured reserve, J.T. Barrett was the first player to step in. He guided the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record before breaking his ankle in the regular season finale against Michigan. But before the injury Barrett broke many of Miller’s records. From there Cardale Jones took over and led OSU to the Big Ten Championship, the College Football Playoff, and the 2014 National Championship. The success of the latter two led to rumors that Miller might transfer.
Playing Wide Receiver Could Make Miller a Better NFL Prospect
Even when Miller was healthy, many franchises felt that Miller might not transition to quarterback at the pro level. Under Urban Meyer, Ohio State runs a combination spread-option offense. It requires the quarterback to lineup in the shotgun 90-percent of the time, and it’s not an ideal offense for a quarterback trying to find his way into the professional ranks. Plus, Barrett and Jones exposed some of Miller’s weaknesses. Barrett has a more accurate arm and makes better decisions than Miller, while Jones has far superior arm strength. Most NFL teams might have asked Miller to switch positions anyway.
The Buckeyes Need Wide Receiver Depth
It turns out that three of their receivers – senior Corey Smith, sophomore Jalin Marshall, and junior Dontre Wilson – will be suspended for this year’s opener at Virginia Tech for what ESPN says is due to academic issues, and positive tests for marijuana. Miller will get his chance to prove himself in this new position immediately.
Miller has the speed, mobility, athleticism, and agility to play the position. His years of playing QB allowed him to fully grasp the Buckeyes playbook. It shouldn’t take him long to adjust and it will only help Ohio State in the long run.
