Braxton Miller Heisman watch: Media-shy Buckeyes QB says candidacy 'a wonderful thing'
Steve Greenberg Sporting News
Braxton Miller, the sensational sophomore quarterback for fifth-ranked Ohio State, hasn't exactly been a media magnet this season.
His 10-0 team is soaring above expectations. With 1,166 yards rushing and 27 total touchdowns, he is every bit a Heisman Trophy candidate.
Braxton Miller Heisman Watch: The Ohio State QB has two more games to improve his resume. (AP Photo)
And yet, the Buckeyes' ineligibility for the postseason has taken a lot of air out of the balloon for the team in general and for the guy OSU 2006 Heisman winner Troy Smith says could become the best quarterback in program history.
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Beyond that, well, Miller isn't one who loves to gab with reporters.
But the Buckeyes are too close to 12-0?and Miller's Heisman candidacy is too real?for Miller, Urban Meyer or anyone else to keep the 6-foot-3, 229-pound Ohio native's thoughts and opinions about this season on the down-low.
So Miller?to everyone's benefit, including his own?was put on a brief conference call with approximately a dozen reporters Monday evening, and these were among the highlights:
On the motivation to finish 12-0: "Coach Meyer and the boys on the team just want to win out the season (and) let the seniors go out with a good season."
On being a Heisman candidate: "Man, it's tough. A lot of guys come up to me about it. I try not to talk about it. I really don't like talking about myself. ... (But) it's a wonderful thing. I've just got to keep working hard and continue to get better."
On whether he believed fellow unbeatens Alabama, Oregon, Kansas State and Notre Dame are all better than the Buckeyes: "Nah, not really."
On the football he watched heading into OSU's bye week: "(Alabama-LSU) was a good game. A lot of good plays, a lot of playmakers, a lot of athletes going around the field. That's all I've got to say about that."
On the player from another team who has most caught Miller's eye: "The guy who caught my attention was the receiver from USC (Marqise Lee). He plays all the positions?X, Z, inside, outside, kickoff return. He's explosive. He catches all the balls that come his way."
On Troy Smith saying Miller could be best QB ever at Ohio State: "It means a lot. Troy Smith was an all-around quarterback, a complete quarterback."
On his biggest improvement from 2011 to 2012: "Leadership. Coming from last year, I was a young guy, a freshman; I really didn't know how to take that role."
