Braxton Miller was the final Ohio State player to roll into the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Tuesday morning as he and three teammates — Joshua Perry, Ezekiel Elliott and Cardale Jones — were running a bit behind to catch a flight to Los Angeles. The four Buckeyes stars, along with head coach Urban Meyer, are heading out to the west coast to be part of the ESPYs award show Wednesday evening.
Miller got out of his car with a couple of bags, but was also sporting a camouflage shirt.
It was sort of fitting for the two-time Big Ten Player of the Year, too, because outside of an interview last week with the Columbus Dispatch where he officially announced his return to Ohio State, Miller had not spoken publicly since re-injuring his shoulder 12 days before the 2014 season began. Miller missed that entire 2014 campaign, a year which the Buckeyes went on an unprecedented run to win the national title.
Miller headed over toward the large media contingent who was eager to hear from him for the first time.
“Where y’all been at?” Miller, the guy dressed in camo, quipped to the Columbus-area media as he flashed a big smile across his face.
Miller didn’t speak for long — roughly 2 minutes — after all, the Buckeyes were on a tight deadline to try and catch their 11:45 a.m. flight. But the fifth-year senior quarterback did say it was great to finally announce last week he was officially returning to Ohio State.
“It just feels good,” Miller said. “I feel happy I got it off my chest for the Buckeye fans and my family. We’ve been going through a lot so to final get it off my chest, it feels good.”
Miller had been at the center of transfer rumors since the Buckeyes claimed that national title back in January. With J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones set to return as well, Ohio State has three of the best quarterbacks in the country on its roster and, because Miller graduated in December, he had the option of transferring to another program without having to sit out a year.
That never really crossed his mind, though.
“I’m a Buckeye, man, I’ve got a tat on my shoulder,” Miller said when asked if he ever considered a transfer. “My son’s gonna come here one day.”
Miller said rehab for his shoulder injury is progressing.
“Right now I’m healthy and just getting better each and every day," he said. "Rehab-wise, strength-wise and everything.”
As a result, Miller, Barrett and Jones are getting set to gear up for an all-time quarterback battle. And the guy who has started three full seasons for the Buckeyes is ready for the opportunity.
“It’s gonna be fun, man," Miller said. "Just to get an opportunity to push one another, it’s gonna be fun.”
