Even with losing 53 percent of its sacks (28.5 of 54) to the National Football League in Jonathan Allen, Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson, Alabama returns a multitude of talent next fall on defense.
While it’s happy to have Rashaan Evans causing terror on the edge (nine career sacks), rising junior outside linebacker Christian Miller is someone of whom many Crimson Tide fans are elated to see in action.
Miller, a native of Columbia, S.C., was one of the nation’s top outside linebacker prospects and elite edge rushers during the 2014 recruiting cycle. He had 188 tackles and 24 sacks in his senior year (2013) at Spring Valley High School, making him a semifinalist for the Butkus Award– presented to nation’s top linebacker.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder comes from a family of talent athletes. Miller’s father, Corey Miller, played eight seasons in the NFL (1992-99) with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings.
After redshirting in 2014 and not generating stats in 2015, Miller was a productive rotation player through 15 games last season. He recorded 16 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and four quarterback hurries.
Despite returning Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Hall and Jamey Mosley, Miller has the size, speed and playmaking capabilities to be a breakout star within the group. Following Alabama’s 54-16 win over Florida in the 2016 Southeastern Conference Championship Game, Tim Williams and Miller celebrated inside the Georgia Dome.
Video via Cameron Tew, UA student and WVUA-FM radio personality
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNk_9Vej7H9/?taken-by=camtew345&hl=en
Filling in the shoes of Anderson and Williams will be tough; nevertheless, the Louisiana native believes that Miller is ready. “C. Miller is up and coming.”- Williams said after SEC Championship. Having co-defensive coordinator/outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi for another year also works in Miller’s favor.
Per Tide linebacker Jamey Mosley, Lupoi is one of the more personable guys on Nick Saban’s staff.
“Tosh does more than talk football, he also helps us off the field,” Mosley said. “He’s a very smart guy and he’s easy to get along with. You can just tell that he loves us and we love him.”
With spring practice starting next month, we shall see how ready is Miller to take over.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
