Roughly a year ago, I put together a list of Braxton Miller’s Top Five Jukes of 2012. The roundup showcased Braxton’s ability to make opponents look foolish on the regular.
Since then Miller led the Buckeyes to another undefeated regular season, rolling up 1,068 yards in the process. The effort marked Braxton’s second consecutive thousand yard season and solidified him as the Buckeyes No. 7 rusher of all time. He’s now just 714 yards away from Eddie George as the Scarlet and Gray’s No. 2 rusher in history. Repeat that last sentence in your head. Let it resonate. This kid is good.
What makes Miller so dangerous is his ability to make tacklers miss. So, I’ve poured over all 1,068 yards of footage to compile the second annual Braxton Miller’s Top Five Jukes.
No. 5 Michigan Okie Doke Freak Show
Down a touchdown late in the first quarter of The Game, Braxton called his own number on second and three, and slashed up the gut of the Michigan defense. He makes a safety look silly, before giving UM defensive back, Blake Countess, a taste of his stiff arm of justice.
No. 4 Hawkeye Shake and Bake
On the first drive of the fourth quarter against Iowa, the Buckeyes found themselves in an unexpected dogfight. With the score knotted at 24, the Scarlet and Gray faced a 3rd and 7 at the Iowa 28-yard line. The Buckeyes needed seven, Braxton got nine. Call me crazy, but the scramble looked a lot like this gem from Troy Smith.
No. 3 Boiler Flip
Up 21-0 in the first quarter against Purdue, the Buckeyes were threatening to score yet again. Miller took the snap and rolled to his left in an effort to find an open man. Carlos Hyde slowed Purdue linebacker, Sean Robinson, but it was Miller’s juke that put Robinson on the ground…twice. The rest was video game stuff.
No. 2 Hoosier Daddy?
With five minutes to go in the third quarter of a snow-laden tilt against Indiana, Miller took the snap and immediately saw his right side protection break down. Flushed to his left, Braxton should have gone down at least twice behind the line of scrimmage. Instead, he went full pinball mode for 17 yards and a first down.
No. 1 WATCH OUT Wolverine!
So I’ll admit this might not be Miller’s most impressive looking juke, but I assure you it was one of his most effective. Down a touchdown and facing a 2nd and 10 from the Michigan 21, Miller was flushed out of the pocket to his right. Keeping his eyes downfield, Braxton quickly saw he had nothing and gestured for his teammates to clear-out, giving him room to go HAM. The end result: two Wolverines tackling eachother and a Buckeye touchdown. A Scarlet and Gray game tying touchdown + Maize on Maize crime. That’s enough to top this list in my book.
With one more season to set the college football world aflame, Miller will have the opportunity to cement himself as one of the top Buckeye rushers of all time. His uncanny ability to improvise on the fly makes him a dangerous weapon on the ground and his continued progression as a passer makes him a nightmare for opposing secondary coaches.
Keep ballin’ Braxton. We see you.
