by Bill Seals
An Iowa State offensive line commit in the 2020 class has maintained a relatively low profile since making his announcement on social media back in late-November.
However, Greene County junior Tyler Miller did take some time out of a busy schedule that includes school, farming and throwing for the track & field squad to make an unofficial visit to ISU on Thursday along with coveted defensive end recruit Blaise Gunnerson from nearby Carroll.
“I’m seeing how their spring practices are going and how intense the coaches are getting after them in the offseason,” said Miller. I’m hoping to get Blaise to be a Cyclone, too. We talk every day and are close friends. We live 15 minutes from each other. We continually talk about what’s going on and what we think about the schools. We’ve been close throughout the whole recruiting process. I don’t think he’s going to commit anytime soon; he’s keeping his options open.”
Outside of yesterday’s visit, the 6-foot-9, 290-pound Miller has mostly kept his focus on his team and what he can to do improve for his final year of high school ball.
“After I committed, I didn’t go anywhere for a while,” Miller said. “I’ve mainly just stayed at the high school and have been working with next year’s team. I’m working on putting on more weight. I’ve been working out with Brett Bueker a lot. I’m about 290 right now and am hoping to get up to about 305 by this season.”
With former Cyclone staffer Mitch Moore moving on to Des Moines Roosevelt after a successful run as Greene County’s head coach, Miller said he thinks its important to be a leader for the Rams during the transition after Caden Duncan was named to the position in February.
“I think everything this year is going to be about the same,” Miller said. “The guy coming in is good friends with our offensive coordinator, so the offense is going to stay the same and the defense will be about what it’s like. Everybody knows their role and who plays what. Some guys will have to step up to get more kids in the weight room, but other than that we’ll be set.”
That need to stay close to home extended to his numerous invites to participate in national and regional camps, as well.
“I was invited to some showcases, like the Nike Opening, but I talked it over with my family and decided not to go,” Miller said. “If I was looking to still pull in more offers, I would probably go just to compete. I feel it’s best for me and my team that I stay back and work with them so we can all get continually better.”
Even with the decision not to travel, Miller has picked up offers from Kansas and Virginia since the I-State commit. He also had Power-5 ones from Minnesota, Nebraska and Purdue at the time of his decision.
The big man said he had the same answer for coaches in Lawrence and Charlottesville.
“I just try to take it as humbly as I can, say thank you and let them know at the same time that I’m 100-percent committed to Iowa State,” Miller said. “They Iowa State coaching staff also knows I’m 100-percent committed to them.”
Rivals, which has assigned him a 5.7 rating, considers Miller the top overall prospect in Iowa for the 2020 class as well as the 40th offensive tackle nationally.
An Iowa State offensive line commit in the 2020 class has maintained a relatively low profile since making his announcement on social media back in late-November.
However, Greene County junior Tyler Miller did take some time out of a busy schedule that includes school, farming and throwing for the track & field squad to make an unofficial visit to ISU on Thursday along with coveted defensive end recruit Blaise Gunnerson from nearby Carroll.
“I’m seeing how their spring practices are going and how intense the coaches are getting after them in the offseason,” said Miller. I’m hoping to get Blaise to be a Cyclone, too. We talk every day and are close friends. We live 15 minutes from each other. We continually talk about what’s going on and what we think about the schools. We’ve been close throughout the whole recruiting process. I don’t think he’s going to commit anytime soon; he’s keeping his options open.”
Outside of yesterday’s visit, the 6-foot-9, 290-pound Miller has mostly kept his focus on his team and what he can to do improve for his final year of high school ball.
“After I committed, I didn’t go anywhere for a while,” Miller said. “I’ve mainly just stayed at the high school and have been working with next year’s team. I’m working on putting on more weight. I’ve been working out with Brett Bueker a lot. I’m about 290 right now and am hoping to get up to about 305 by this season.”
With former Cyclone staffer Mitch Moore moving on to Des Moines Roosevelt after a successful run as Greene County’s head coach, Miller said he thinks its important to be a leader for the Rams during the transition after Caden Duncan was named to the position in February.
“I think everything this year is going to be about the same,” Miller said. “The guy coming in is good friends with our offensive coordinator, so the offense is going to stay the same and the defense will be about what it’s like. Everybody knows their role and who plays what. Some guys will have to step up to get more kids in the weight room, but other than that we’ll be set.”
That need to stay close to home extended to his numerous invites to participate in national and regional camps, as well.
“I was invited to some showcases, like the Nike Opening, but I talked it over with my family and decided not to go,” Miller said. “If I was looking to still pull in more offers, I would probably go just to compete. I feel it’s best for me and my team that I stay back and work with them so we can all get continually better.”
Even with the decision not to travel, Miller has picked up offers from Kansas and Virginia since the I-State commit. He also had Power-5 ones from Minnesota, Nebraska and Purdue at the time of his decision.
The big man said he had the same answer for coaches in Lawrence and Charlottesville.
“I just try to take it as humbly as I can, say thank you and let them know at the same time that I’m 100-percent committed to Iowa State,” Miller said. “They Iowa State coaching staff also knows I’m 100-percent committed to them.”
Rivals, which has assigned him a 5.7 rating, considers Miller the top overall prospect in Iowa for the 2020 class as well as the 40th offensive tackle nationally.
