Houston Miller ‘dreaming’ of playing early
Among the many preparing to visit Texas Tech’s spring game was 2016 signee Houston Miller. Despite wanting to attend, he could not make the trip to Lubbock when the open practice was rescheduled for a day earlier.
“I wanted to but I was thinking, ‘I’m going to be there in a month,’” Miller said.
Miller is now up to 250 pounds, 10 pounds heavier than listed on National Signing Day. But he’s worked with personal trainer and former Olympic bobsledder Kyle Meadows to improve acceleration while continuing to get bigger.
“I put on the weight and haven’t lost a step in my speed and my explosion off the line so that’s the biggest thing, making sure I put on that weight and not lost that,” he said.
With an incoming signing class that includes seven defensive linemen, two junior college transfers, establishing an early rapport can help accelerate lines of communication and cohesiveness.
Through social media, specifically Twitter, Miller reveals the group has established open channels of communication and developed an understanding prior to arriving on campus.
“Our chemistry is great, all the [defensive linemen], specifically, we all have a lot of great guys, we’re all coming in hot, we’re all ready to get some stuff done. Just a matter of who’s going to be able to get up there and put in the most work in that first part of the summer and everything like that and just show off. I’m trying to figure out whose job I’m going to take because that’s the ultimate goal, to start and play a lot as a freshman, so that’s going to be fun. I’ve been talking to [defensive line coach Kevin Patrick] and I’ve been learning the defenses, we’ve been talking about that lately. So I’m already getting a head start on everything, it feels real good.
“So having that chemistry with the teammates already and not all of us being there is great. We’re still close with [Johnathan Picone] and [Jett Duffey] and everything like that, I’m constantly having talks with [defensive coordinator David Gibbs] and coach Patrick and we’re all just having fun. So we’re all just really excited to get up there and get everything going so that’s the biggest thing. But our chemistry has taken off and that’s one of the biggest things you have to have is chemistry between a bunch of guys. If you do not have a family atmosphere with your teammates then you’re not going to get anything done. You’ve got to all have a love and a brotherhood with each other.”
Breiden Fehoko is back as the lone returning starter along Tech’s defensive line, creating several openings heading into next season. Broderick Washington and Zach Barnes were listed as starters on the Red Raiders’ post-spring depth chart along with Gary Moore as the team’s hybrid linebacker/rush end. Ondre Pipkins and Kolin Hill are currently expected in the two-deep behind Washington and Barnes, respectively.
Miller understands that the option of redshirting could be a possibility, but intends to continue studying and training as a potential starter.
“If it happens it happens, that’s not in my control,” said Miller of redshirting. “But we’ve been talking, I think it’s out the question so that’s the best thing. I’ve been working, putting on weight, just getting better at my ball skill and then just getting stronger and faster, trying to get ready to take someone’s position and get ready to play.”
Graf about communicating with Patrick in preparation of playing early
The three-star product remains in talks with coach Patrick in preparation of being an early contributor.
Miller revealed his mother noticed him even talking through signal calls in his downtime.
“[Coach Patrick] taught me the defenses and the signals and stuff like that and we learned about that. Apparently I was taking a nap and my mom came in and said that she heard me talking through my door and I was doing the hand signals and giving all the calls while I was sleeping.”
Miller is preparing for move-in day on June 5th and the mandatory summer school that will accompany summer workouts with strength and conditioning coach Rusty Whitt.
An early load of dual-credit high school courses with Tarrant County Community College has Miller, fortunately, ahead of the curve in the classroom, which leaves more time to spend at the football training facility.
“That’s the ultimate goal, I want to play as soon as I [can],” Miller said. “I’m not the type of person that wants to get there, hang out for a little bit, then play; I want to make an immediate impact and that’s what I plan on doing.”