Following Thursday’s Ohio State recruiting camp, 2025 wide receiver Bodpegn Miller turned in a performance that made Brian Hartline think long and hard.
Miller, an in-state prospect from Mansfield, only recently converted to wide receiver from quarterback within the last four months. Yet, he’s been dedicated to learning the intricacies of the position in that timeframe and has camped at various other schools to help hone his craft.
He certainly didn’t look like a converted quarterback on Thursday, winning the majority of his one-on-one reps in competition drills and flashing potential to be a potential game-changing receiver at the collegiate level one day.
I had a great time today at@OhioStateFB camp! Big thanks to the
— Bodpegn Miller (@BodpegnM) June 14, 2024
coaching staff for the warm welcome.@etwill21 @ryandaytime @brianhartline@OSUCoachHinton pic.twitter.com/Bzvd0h11sT
Hartline and Ohio State wanted another look at Miller following his impressive workout. The Ontario High School product showed up in Columbus on Tuesday to compete in the Buckeyes’ 7-on-7 tournament for the “house” team, which is largely made up of individual recruits who are still competing in the tournament even if their high school didn’t make the event.
Miller continued to impress throughout the day and showcased his speed for Hartline and the Ohio State staff during a 40-yard dash. Last summer, Miller estimates he ran between a 4.6 and 4.7-second 40-yard dash. On Tuesday, he was clocked at 4.44 seconds.
“I’ve been working a lot over the summer and really got it down,” Miller said. “My speed really takes the top off the defense. You have to worry about my length and long and short routes. I’m a two-way threat.”
Miller grew up a die-hard Buckeye fan and vividly remembers Curtis Samuel’s touchdown to beat Michigan in 2016. Shortly after his workout with Hartline, he was told the news that potentially changed his life: He had received an offer from Ohio State. As one can imagine, he was on cloud nine after he heard he had earned the chance to play at his favorite school.
After a great conversation with @brianhartline I am blessed to receive an offer from @OhioStateFB All Glory to God!!
— Bodpegn Miller (@BodpegnM) June 18, 2024
Thank you for the support @JaredLuginbill @Birm @kaleb_longhurst @Bill_Kurelic @MSR_Ohio @mickdwalker @JakeFurr11 pic.twitter.com/9WPFX1Dr4g
“It definitely feels amazing,” Miller told Eleven Warriors on Tuesday. “It’s been a dream of mine since I grew up an Ohio State fan. It’s just a dream come true. All glory to God. Ever since I picked up a football when I was eight years old, I’ve been wanting to get this.”
Miller said he was excited to earn another chance to impress Hartline following his standout camp on Thursday and set a goal for himself to leave Columbus with an offer in hand.
“I wanted to do the same thing I did in the last camp,” Miller said. “Visualize it, stay calm, there’s nothing to be nervous about, just be me.
“(Hartline) said he loved my abilities,” Miller said. “Not only that but he said I have a good mindset, I can learn and pick up things. I played quarterback in high school, so this is a new thing for me. You could say he loved my ability to learn and adapt.”
If he eventually commits to Ohio State, Miller is likely a strong candidate to play the X position with his 6-foot-4, 180-pound frame. In the time Hartline and Miller have spent together, the wide receivers coach has been giving him tips to help refine his technique since he’s so new to the position.
“He gave me a few drills to help, but mostly he’s told me to stay calm because you’re not going to get it right away,” Miller said. “It’s all about being repetitive and consistent and having motivation.”
Most of Miller’s development at wideout will come once he gets to a college campus, though, as he says he’ll likely still play quarterback for his high school in his senior year, even though they’re working on a few packages that will get him reps as a wide receiver.
Asked how much the Ohio State offer changes his recruitment, Miller flashed a grin and said “we’ll see.” For now, he still plans on taking an official visit to Boston College this weekend, the first official visit he’s taken all summer. He said he’s considering taking another visit to OSU now that he has an offer in hand, but he’s not sure when that will be possible and is still trying to work his schedule out. He says he’s not in any hurry to make a decision, though. Iowa State is another program Miller says he’s considering as well.
“I’m just going to keep a calm mind,” Miller said. “I want to be somewhere where they can develop me, not only as a football player but as a young man. And somewhere that values education a lot. I want to have a Plan B other than the NFL because most people don’t make it that far. I want to set myself up for success.”
Yet, the allure of potentially donning the scarlet and gray isn’t something that Miller can easily ignore.
“It would be awesome,” Miller said. “Like I said earlier, it would be a dream come true.”
