MSU's Grayson Miller hopes off-season ‘jump’ results in starting job
Michigan State safety Grayson Miller said this past off-season saw him make “probably the best jump I’ve made in my career so far.”
That improvement already is paying dividends for the junior in fall camp. He’s trying to win a starting job.
“I’m seeing things faster,” he said during Monday’s media day. “I’m reacting faster. I can coordinate more when I’m on the field. If I’m with a younger player, I can tell them where they need to go. I understand what the defense is doing at all levels, what stunts the D-linemen are running, what the linebackers are doing, and where I need to be on the field to put myself in the best position to make the play.
“I’ve noticed the difference, noticed I’ve really stepped up since my freshman year, in terms of understanding the whole game.”
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Comments like those make co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Harlon Barnett happy because he enters camp without a surefire starting safety.
Last year’s starters, free safety Demetrious Cox and strong safety Montae Nicholson, have graduated and are trying to catch on in the NFL. That leaves four players fighting for two open jobs in Miller, Khari Willis, Matt Morrissey and Jalen Watts-Jackson.
“(Not having a returning starter) is absolutely a great thing because it allows everybody to fight each other and get better,” Barnett said. “When you’re a competitor, you’re going to get better. If you wilt under competition, then it separates itself. You love competition, and these guys love competition. I love it. It makes us better.”
Miller is hoping the two fill-in starts he made last year gives him an edge in the competition. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound Georgetown, Ky., native made one start vs. then-ranked No. 2 Michigan, recording career highs in tackles (seven), pass breakups (two) and tackles for loss (one).
He appeared in 10 games and notched 20 tackles as a sophomore.
“In my position right now (starting twice last season) gives me extra confidence because I know I can go out there and perform,” said Miller, who made four starts as a freshman. “I’ve done it multiple times. I did it as a freshman, did it as a sophomore. Now, in my third year, it’s time to turn it into a consistent thing, a consistent product. I have the confidence I can do that because I’ve shown I can do that before.
While Barnett likes all four of his safeties in contention for the two starting roles, the 11th-year coach said there are characteristics that set Miller apart from the others.
“His size and speed are really what set him apart,” Barnett said. “He’s a big man who can run. He has good ball skills, good feet. He’ll go get you tackling, and that’s something we stress. He’s continued to improve upon those things, which allows him to be a guy that’s competing for a start.”
Miller just needs to finish camp playing well and the job could be his.
“I’m playing some of the best football of my career, I think,” Miller said. “Everybody is just splitting reps evenly among the ones, twos and whatever it may be. Everybody is getting their chance to play against the one offense, two offense.
“Really, at this point in camp, I just need to show what I can do on the field, how fast I can make calls and lead on the field, because you know us and the linebackers are the ones leading on the field.”