Through all the conjecture, rehabilitation, setbacks, questions and long-awaited announcements, Braxton Miller has finally cleared the air.
The two-time Big Ten Player of the Year sat down with head coach Urban Meyer as well as Tim May and Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch Thursday afternoon to reaffirm his allegiance to the Buckeyes. He also said he plans on competing for the starting quarterback job this fall.
"I’m from Ohio, this is my home state,” Miller told the Dispatch. “This is where I started and this is where I’m going to finish it."
He added: "God put me on this earth ... to be an athlete, and the first thing in mind is being a quarterback, and just be smart about what I do."
Miller added that "schools reached out, they reached out hard" about a possibility of him exercising the graduate transfer option set in place by the NCAA, but ultimately chose to stay home.
"I’ve seen from Braxton the same things I’ve seen since I’ve been here," Meyer told the Dispatch. "“He’s always loved Ohio State. That’s why when I heard this stuff going on (about possible transfer), I was like ‘Where is this stuff coming from?'"
Miller battled a multitude of injuries in his Buckeye career, but none more severe than the double labrum tear to his throwing shoulder. He first went down against Clemson in the 2014 Orange Bowl, but finished the game.
Barely eight months later he worked his way back with plans to be ready for the 2014 season, but Miller went down again in a non-contact drill during fall camp.
A second, subsequent surgery was needed and performed by Dr. James Andrews four days before Ohio State's season opener. Miller then watched replacements J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones carry the torch and lead the Buckeyes to a 14-1 season and the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship.
The last time Miller gave an interview before Thursday was the day he re-injured that throwing shoulder, leaving speculation of his plans for his final year of collegiate eligibility to swarm like a cloud over Ohio State's campus.
“I’m from Ohio, this is my home state. This is where I started and this is where I’m going to finish it.”– Braxton Miller to the Columbus Dispatch
A day later, Ohio State released a statement confirming he'd miss the 2014 season, quoting the decorated quarterback as saying he planned to "return to lead the Buckeyes next season."
Still, mass amounts of takes resonated across the college football landscape regarding the star's intentions for this fall.
Miller put it all to rest Thursday, with fall camp less than a month away.
"I know who I am as a person. I know who I am as an athlete," he said. "As it stands right now, I know I am the best athlete in college football. If any competition wants to come my way, I’ve just got to be smart about things and just stay looking forward."
