Collin Miller Quotes - March 9, 2020

Collin Miller
SENIOR | INSIDE LINEBACKER

On the message to the young players
"Definitely trying to step up and just be like the vocal person in the group. You know me and Will [Honas] are seniors now. No more piggy-backing off of Mo [Barry] and all the other guys that can kind of just teach you the ropes. So we are teaching all these guys a lot of different things so kind of just being the vocalist of the group now as a senior. People are looking up to us."
 
On the depth this year
"We had a lot of guys last year that were focusing on perfecting their craft and didn't know a lot of the play book yet and now everyone here you can say can contribute right away. Jackson Hannah [is] making big strides. Luke Reimer making big strides. So I think having 12 people in a group, I think we have 15 maybe. A lot of just reps and time off of your legs."
 
On what needs to be worked on
"I critique myself very hard. I think riding on some of those wide receivers were my strong suits. I can definitely get faster [and] stronger. I'm vocal out there with the d-line [and] outside backers. Definitely last year was my first year as a middle linebacker playing in the game. So just picking up tendencies and keys and seeing things live was new to me. So I think having that one year under my belt really taught me a lot."
 
On the challenge of Big Ten teams
"My run defense, just working on my keys [and] seeing the guards. Seeing through the near back. Coach Ruud does a phenomenal job teaching us every day. Our keys and our visuals and everything we need to see. Coach Ruud has been playing in the league for years and years so we learn from the best of the best. We have a great coaching staff [and] a great scheme to get us there."
 
On the guys on the defensive side
"They are doing a great job. We got Jordan Riley out there, Keem Green, Ben Stille. You name them, we got them all. The guys did a very good job today, running fast, shutting off blocks, making gaps big for us so we can shoot our gaps. Our d-line is looking really good [and] strong out there too. The strength side doing a phenomenal job with them."
 
On year three in the system
"Everyone is closer than ever. The coaching staff has been here for a while. People know the rights and the wrongs. What to do what not to do. These guys are like family. I have never seen a coaching staff and players connect so close as they have here. I have seen numerous coaches in and out but this coaching staff is phenomenal."
 
On Mike Dawson
"Dawson coming from the Giants was a big get. I know the guys here love him. [He's] very passionate about the game, loves Nebraska. He is helping our outside backers a lot and Caleb Tannor told me today how much he loves him. Glad he is back. JoJo Domann loves him as well. I think he knows the scheme. He is coming in right along and knows what we need. So he is a great get."
 
On the redshirt freshmen
"Like I said [Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Zach] Duval [and] [Assistant Football Strength Coach Andrew] Strop, you name them they did a phenomenal job of making guys faster stronger. Those guys bust their butts in there, trust me. Just coming out here and people flying around where you have to look at them and be like you were the same person that was out here last winter or something like that but they are doing a phenomenal job. I think we really keyed on just being Big Ten strong. A lot of the guys that redshirted wanted to play. A lot of Nebraska guys wanted to come in here and contribute and I think they busted their butts to make sure they make a name for themselves here."
 
On being Big Ten strong
"The Big Ten is very physical. Iowa. Wisconsin. You know them. Minnesota. Very physical. The Big Ten in my opinion is the best conference. I think you come in and you redshirt a little bit because you got some guys some can come in and play right away. It's a lot to adapt to."
 
On the early enrollees
"The first person that stuck out to me that is early here is that I haven't seen is Jordan Riley. Big physical guy. He is going to do phenomenal things for us. Moving blockers. Making gaps bigger for us. He is a big boy and that big boy can run too. I think he is going to help us out a lot."
 
On Eteva Mauga-Clements
"Eteva came in a little shy. He finally opened up to us. He is very vocal guy now. Very funny. Relaxed. Fast. He knows his tendencies. He knows his keys. He wants to play. He wants to get in right now and play. So he is first one in, last one out. You can already tell. He is already asking to get help from us, me and Will [Honas]. He is wanting to meet with Ruud 24/7. He is coming in here and wanting to contribute right away."

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