2016 DE/OLB Brock Miller Picks Hokies for Top Group, Sets Blacksburg Visit Ahead of Summer Decision

For the last nine recruiting cycles, the Hokies have managed to sign at least one player from the state of Florida, but the team has yet to earn a verbal pledge from any prospect from the Sunshine State for the 2016 class.

That's something that renowned Florida recruiter and DL coach Charley Wiles is working desperately to change, and he seems to be helping the Hokies make inroads with at least one prospect out of Vero Beach.

OLB/DE Brock Miller of John Carroll HS cut down the list of schools he's considering to just eight back on July 5, and the Hokies made the cut.

Top 8 pic.twitter.com/9Dz3QTk1np— Brock Miller (@brockmiller5) July 5, 2015

The Hokies only offered Miller a shot at joining the football team back in mid-June, but he's had his eye on Virginia Tech in one form or fashion for a while now.

"I went up to Blacksburg for a basketball camp the summer after my freshman year because Coach (James) Johnson was recruiting me back then," Miller said. "So I've already gotten a chance to visit there and see campus a little. I really liked how it was in the mountains, it was definitely different from where I live in Florida."

While Southwestern Virginia may be a long way from Miller's home in Southern Florida, his family sounds as if they wouldn't be totally opposed him making the long move either.

"He really likes the area, and his parents have family up that way, so they're excited about that," said Mike Watkins, Miller's head coach at John Carroll HS.

But with a coaching change in the basketball program, Tech seemed like less of an option for Miller.

That all changed when Wiles took notice of Miller on a swing through the state a few months ago.

"Back in the spring, Coach Wiles came to my school to see me," Miller said. "Since then, we've been talking on and off for the last month, DMing on Twitter, forming a good relationship. Plus he got to talk with my parents at one point, and they seemed to like him."

Yet Wiles didn't just pull the trigger and offer as soon as he met Miller, or even once he spent some time getting to know him.

"Brock probably had 20 or more offers when Coach Wiles came to see him, but Virginia Tech does it right, they don't offer every kid they come across," Watkins said. "He said he had to go back and have everyone sign off, and then they'd make a decision on him as a staff."

By June 15, it seems the Hokies made up their mind on Miller, and they quickly became one of the rising senior's top schools.

"Their defensive coordinator is one of the best in the country," Miller said. "It's cool to know that if I went there, I'd be coached by the best of the best."

If Miller were to choose the Hokies, it remains to be seen whether Wiles or Cornell Brown and Bud Foster would be the ones taking over his coaching.

"Coach Wiles said he liked him as a defensive lineman, while Coach Foster liked him as a linebacker," Watkins said. "It's just kind of a matter of how big he gets."

At 6'4", Miller certainly has the type of frame to support plenty of muscle, but he says it's still unclear just how much mass he'll add over the next year.

"Coach Foster said they kind of want to see how my body plays out," Miller said. "I'm about 215 (pounds) now, so if I gain 35 or 40, I'll be a defensive end. But if it's more like 15 or 20, I'll be a linebacker."

Luckily, Watkins says Miller has the athleticism to be successful at either position going forward.

"Against spread teams, we'll stand him up and have him drop back and rush the passer, but against 'Wing-T' teams, we'll have him put his hand on the ground," Watkins said. "He's got a great first step. He's just a great athlete overall, and it translates to the football field."

Watkins says Miller still competes on the basketball court these days, and "if you watch his highlights, you'll see him dunking the ball over the place."

That leaping ability comes in hand for the Rams on the offensive side of the ball as well.

"He plays wideout for us, he's kind of our jump ball guy in the red zone since he has a 40-inch vertical," Watkins said. "He's gotten offers as a tight end. Plus he's our wildcat guy, he can throw a little bit. That's probably the thing he does worst, but that's OK."

Yet for all of Miller's versatility, Watkins thinks he'll truly realize his promise as a prospect once he picks a position and sets his mind to working on his body.

"His upside is different because he's been a multiple sport guy for so long," Watkins said. "Once he picks a school and starts eating three squares a day and doing protein shakes, that sort of thing, he'll put on 20 or 30 pounds in his first year and he'll be special."

Miller says he's getting awful close to picking a school and starting that process.

His first order of business will be to try and visit the bulk of schools that made the cut for his top eight. He admits that he "might not be able to make it to Cal and Boise State this summer," he is planning on seeing his other top schools this month.

"I'll be going to Virginia Tech, then UVA while I'm up there," Miller said. "I'm trying to get to Kentucky, N.C. State and Mississippi State as well," Miller said.

Even though he's already been to Blacksburg once, Miller says he's looking forward to making a return trip with a focus on football.

"I plan on visiting July 25 for the big recruiting barbecue they're having," Miller said. "It'll be cool to be able to see the locker room, the weight room, the new indoor facility, since last time I didn't really see it from a football perspective."

Once he gets a chance to tour his chosen campuses, he hopes to put his recruitment to bed fairly quickly.

"I'm hoping to be committed by the end of July," Miller said. "We'll see how things play out, but that's what I'm envisioning."

Miller says making a decision ahead of his senior season will help him focus on making it his best yet.

"I want to try to be active in the weightroom and work harder than the last few years since this my last one," Miller said. "I want to lead the younger kids, and get more flexible, more explosive."

Watkins agrees with those goals, but he feels Miller will only truly realize them once he makes it to the next level.

"I don't think I'll see it, but once he gets in a program and gets better in a low position, just more flexible with better bend and hip mobility, that'll be something," Watkins said. "He'll be really, really good, that's for sure."