Spring Watch: Maikhail Miller

Five Players with the most to gain over spring practice—Part one: a look at QB Maikhail Miller

Seph Anderson, Sportswriter to The South, focuses his sports writing and photography skills on covering timely Ole Miss and SEC news, among all things sports across the South.

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Photo by Kevin Bain / Ole Miss Communications

The reserve or co-starter at QB this spring for Ole Miss will be Maikhail Miller.

Maikhail who?

Outside of Oxford, there’s a good chance nobody has heard of Maikhail Miller.

Well, this spring his name is sure to be talked about a great deal. With starter Bo Wallace recovering from surgery, the sophomore Miller will likely share snaps behind center with Barry Brunetti.

Miller was named the No. 20 quarterback in the nation by ESPN out of high school. A bigger, more physical quarterback than usual at Ole Miss, the 6’2”, 240-pound Miller is a dual-threat option. During his senior year of high school, he threw for 1,636 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for 1,148 yards and 22 scores. He provides a bigger, more bruising option behind center than the Rebels have had in a while.

Does Miller have a shot to be the eventual backup to Wallace this fall? It’s quite possible.

This spring, he’ll get a shot to show the coaching staff exactly what he can do for the Rebels.

In an ideal world, Wallace returns as healthy as a horse, Miller gets the backup job and Hugh Freeze is able to red-shirt both of his talented true freshmen gunslingers (Ryan Buchanan and Devante Kincade). As for Brunetti, the bottom line is he can best serve the Rebels by falling into place at other positions on offense in a variety of different formations.

If Wallace doesn’t come back entirely healthy, the development of Miller this spring and summer becomes of dire importance to Ole Miss. The pieces are in place for the Rebels on offense to be very productive in 2013, but for that to happen, efficient quarterback play must also be present.

Either way, Miller should figure into the mix this fall. He’s got the size and strength to come in around the goal line or on short third downs to make a difference for the Rebels.

It will be interesting to hear Freeze evaluate Miller after getting a chance to watch him this spring.