Ohio State coach Urban Meyer put Buckeyes star Braxton Miller's athleticism in a class with Buffalo Bills wide receiver Percy Harvin on Thursday, but wasn't quite as ready to predict a Harvin-like impact for Miller, the two-time Big Ten Player of the Year who is switching from quarterback to H-back.
Harvin played H-back under Meyer at the University of Florida, and amassed 4,781 yards from scrimmage in the role over three seasons while winning two national championships. Meyer, however, corrected a reporter whose question established the premise that Miller is the most dynamic player Meyer has coached.
"So I don't get a text from Percy (Harvin), I did not say the most (dynamic). One of the most," Meyer said Thursday at Big Ten Media Days. "I have not been around a more dynamic athlete (than Harvin). However, you can use Braxton Miller in the same tonage of that kind of athleticism. Obviously, Braxton has a long way to go at that position."
Harvin's impact at UF actually relied on more rushes (194) than catches (133), but Meyer said he was still unsure of how Miller's role at the H-back position would develop.
"We've been working with him for a good month, however, without a ball. It's all been footwork. You can condition position-specific and that's what he's been doing," Meyer said. "Feedback I'm getting from guys like (quarterbacks) J.T. (Barrett) and Cardale (Jones) is that he's very athletic and can catch the ball. I have not seen him do that. I'm anxious to see day one. Day one, I will personally work with him myself -- I was a receiver coach for a long time."
Miller will be an additional weapon for either Barrett or Jones, as the two will vie for the starting quarterback job in fall camp. And while Meyer is unsure what shape Miller's role will take, he has little doubt the 6-foot-2, 215-pound star will be on the field.
"For the average guy (changing positions), I'd say it'd be very uncommon to (make an impact) right out of the gate," Meyer said. "He's not common, though. ... My expectation is, he's an impact player."
Harvin, of course, wasn't common, either.
And if Miller's production is anything close to what Harvin brought to UF from 2006-2008, the Buckeyes' offense will be something close to unstoppable.
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