The Buckeyes have had some difficulty in landing a 2019 quarterback, which may be one reason they are looking to lock in their 2020 quarterback as quickly as they can. And right now, it looks like that may be happening sooner rather than later with 4-star Arizona target Jack Miller.
Miller, who plays for Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, is the No. 3 pro-style qurterback back in the 2020 class according to the 247Sports Composite. He visited Ohio State this weekend for Friday Night Lights and things could not have gone better.
“It was awesome. It was a lot of fun,” he said Friday night. “I had a couple of good throws with a lot of good players out there tonight. I really love it here.”
What impressed him most about the visit?
“Just how great the coaching staff was to me,” he said. “I mean, they always are, but today really kind of cemented how great they are and how much time they’re willing to spend with me and invest in me too.”
The Buckeyes were seen as the favorites to land Miller before the visit, and they only solidified their position after the visit.
“Yeah, I could say so for sure. This visit today really cemented it. I love it here,” he said.
This was not Miller’s first visit to Ohio State. Far from it, in fact. He and OSU have had a relationship for a while now, and he has worked hard to make sure that it doesn’t negatively impact the way he continues to develop.
“It’s humbling for sure,” he said. “It’s something that you just have to put aside and keep working and put my head down and keep going and not think about it too much. It’s been an awesome opportunity for sure.”
But there was a reason that this weekend’s visit was different than all the others.
“Honestly, my mom seeing it for the first time,” Miller said. “That was the big thing. Me and my dad are the only ones that have been out here, so getting my whole family there was definitely important for me.”
Prior to his OSU visit, Miller spent time at Michigan State and Michigan. On Saturday, he was in Tuscaloosa to visit Alabama.
How did the visit to Michigan go?
“The team up north, I mean, Michigan was awesome,” he said. “It was a good experience for sure. [Jim] Harbaugh is a really good coach, and so is coach [Pep] Hamilton. I love them all. So yeah, they’re definitely an option too.”
Having now visited all of the schools he wanted to visit, a decision will be coming soon.
“I’ll choose pretty soon, but we’ll see for sure,” he said. “Next week, next month. Probably pretty soon though.”
What would Alabama have to do to sway him?
“Just really impress me, not lie to me,” he said. “Tell me straight up what’s going to happen and what the school is going to be like.”
[12 precincts reporting]
The Ohio State coaching staff has told Miller that they only plan on bringing in one quarterback in the 2020 class, but Miller said it wouldn’t affect his decision if they brought in two because he’s willing to compete with whomever.
One major reason why Miller wants to get his decision over and done with is because he has recruiting work to do once he is committed.
“I want to commit soon just so I can start building on my class, for sure,” he said. “Like [4-star safety] Lejond Cavazos, [5-star receiver] Julian Fleming, and [5-star running back] Kendall Milton. My teammate [4-star running back] Darvon [Hubbard], he was here tonight. I have a lot of guys in mind.”
Cavazos is set to commit on Wednesday, and when reminded of this upcoming announcement, Miller acknowledged that there might be a race to the finish line.
“He might just beat me, we’ll see,” Miller said smiling. “We’ll see.”
2020 QB Jack Miller on who he'll be recruiting once he commits. pic.twitter.com/vOyNGowTcg
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) June 24, 2018
That was one too many “for sure” for me.
not a particularly huge arm. I hate highlight reels like this. They only show the big plays in which many are busted coverage. Where are the throws where he is fitting it into a tight window? Where are the throws where he has a hit a guy in stride while rolling out? I’m not denying the kids talent. The staff has made him their #1 guy so there is a reason for it.