Collegiate Times

Like most high school juniors, Andrew Miller was busy whittling down the list of potential colleges to attend. However, unlike most high school juniors, the 6'5", 275-pound Miller was thinking both the gridiron and the wrestling mat.

With such a tall frame, it wouldn't seem Miller could dominate in the latter.

During his junior season at Bassett High School, he won the Virginia AA State championship for the heavyweight division. Andrew then finished the season as the No. 1 ranked heavyweight in the state of Virginia and looks to defend his title once again this year.

"I'm looking forward to try and repeat what I did last season and win states again," Miller said.

With his success on the mat, all the intangibles that come with wrestling have translated to success for Andrew on the football field.

According to ESPN's profile of Miller, the first attribute given to the offensive linemen is great mobility and an athletic-looking frame.

Wrestling focuses on how effectively one uses his hands on the opponent, and that translates to his blocking techniques as Miller comes out of his stance hard and immediately drives into the defender.

According to several players on the wrestling team, Miller may wrestle his freshman year at Virginia Tech while he redshirts his first season in the football program. This is all speculation since the final decision will come down to a discussion between wrestling head coach Kevin Dresser and Frank Beamer.

After narrowing his list of potential suitors to Tech, Wake Forest, Virginia and Florida State, Miller verbally committed to the Hokies during his junior year of high school.

Several reasons gave Tech the edge.

First, as an honor roll student all throughout high school, Miller wanted to make sure he attended a university that was renowned for its academics. Second, the college town of Blacksburg drew him in along with its proximity to his hometown of Bassett - located only about 60 miles southeast of the Tech campus.

Possibly the most influential reason for his college selection was to join his brother, Tim Miller, who's a junior on the wrestling team. During the recruiting process, Miller's head football coach at Bassett, Jay Gilbert, recognized the type of relationship the brothers have.

"Andrew and Tim are real close," Gilbert said, "but I don't know if he wants to go the wrestling route like his brother."

"I am definitely excited to have my brother playing a sport here," Tim Miller said. "No matter which sport it is between wrestling and football."

When asked how wrestling would help make Andrew a more effective offensive lineman, Tim Miller immediately recognized the benefits.

"Wrestling has made him exceptionally explosive and powerful, which I know will be beneficial on the football field."

The athletic genes in the family don't stop there - it all started with Andrew's father playing football at Duke. Following his father's act, older brother John Miller Jr. went on the pigskin path as well at Duke and was a three-year starter for the Blue Devils on the offensive line.

Heather, his older sister, played college basketball for Wake Forest after becoming the leading scorer in women's high school basketball in Virginia with 2,395 career points.

With all the diversity of athletes in the Miller family, many take note of Andrew's versatility.

With great footwork and hand techniques, Miller has been told by Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring that he will be playing mostly offensive guard in college with the possibility of rotating at the center position.

During the recruiting process, Stinespring played the most influential role in helping Andrew decide to verbally commit with the Hokies.

"I kept in contact the most with Coach Stinespring," Miller said. "He played a big role in the whole recruiting (process)."

On paper, Miller does not stand out on the list of Hokie commits. He was rated a three-star prospect by Rivals rankings, but the fact that a recruiting powerhouse such as Florida State would go after Miller helps show the type of potential he has at the college level.

Coming into the 2009 football season, Miller expects to be redshirted for his freshman season, but will be ready to play regardless of what happens.

"Coach Beamer told me to be ready to play when I arrive at campus," Miller said. "So I'll be ready."