Littleton – Ryan Miller stood at his crossroads, fell down on his knees and believed he was sinking.
As a 10th-grade lineman at Columbine High School in 2004, the man-child, always the tallest and largest player on any of his football teams, struggled mightily in Class 5A Jefferson County.
“I wasn’t having any fun,” Miller said. “I was definitely more immature, I wasn’t ready mentally or tough enough physically. I had the body and size, but wasn’t ready to deal with it.”
Rebels coach Andy Lowry recalled a deflated Miller “came in to quit and was as frustrated and miserable as you can get. But it was not an option for me or his (parents).”
Nor a realistic one for Miller, who could have grounded a two-year rise to prep All-America status, which was high enough to turn down Notre Dame in favor of Colorado.
Now living large at 6-feet-8 and 310 pounds, Miller made his agenda official Wednesday: He signed with CU, left a grueling recruiting process behind him and announced he’s ready to attack college football’s highest level as the physical specimen he is with the necessary mind-set everyone in his support system knew he could develop.
“It’s big to get Ryan. It’s big in a lot of ways,” CU coach Dan Hawkins said Wednesday. “You have a kid of that level from in-state that views us as a big-time, marquee program and has that kind of confidence in us.”
Whipped into shape
Funny what appropriate junior varsity time and an eye-catching performance at a camp (in Wyoming) can do for a promising athlete preoccupied with the arrival of his next mistake. Miller’s doubt disappeared, even for a teenager experiencing additional change socially and academically after progressing from a class of 12 students in eighth grade at Shepherd of the Hills to 400-plus at Columbine.
“Coach Lowry helped him through it,” said Miller’s mother, Daylyn. “I cannot say enough about that – he came in to Ryan and said, ‘This needs to be fun, Bud.’ It was huge.”
Lowry said Miller’s parents met with their son, only to have him “run out the door and be missing in action for an hour or two. It’s kind of funny now, not funny back then.”
Miller ran back to Columbine. He put in the work, accepted his parents’ backing and the Rebels’ coaches “kicking my butt,” and was 6-7, 285 by his junior season in becoming one of Colorado’s largest, most sought-after pillars.
“It just really kicked in and I realized I was a lot bigger (than most everyone else),” Miller said. “It was like night and day. I just got it. But I think that’s what most kids who are younger (he will turn 18 in July) and bigger go through. It’s no longer two-hand touch or playground football. You do it the coach’s way.”
Lowry said Miller’s “lights started to come on. And when recruiters came through, he was the one they saw.”
Size, talent easy to spot
How could Miller be missed?
“He is a pretty unique guy,” CU offensive line coach and assistant head coach Chris Strausser said. “For a guy of his size to move like he does is phenomenal.”
Here was an NFL-sized lineman as an 11th-grader who helped the Rebels to a quarterfinals showing in 2005; they lost to eventual state champion Doug- las County. In 2006, Miller’s two-way play and legacy reached an apex in the 5A finale at Invesco Field at Mile High, notably when he ran down Mullen’s Phil Morelli after an 80-yard gain, then gleefully clutched the trophy and held Lowry’s children as if they were dolls during the postgame of Columbine’s fourth title since 1999.
“With some big kids, you think they’re a man,” Lowry said. “With Ryan, it was all mental.”
Miller had to figure it out. He admits he always has “been a freak.” At birth, he weighed 10 pounds, 2 ounces and was more than 22 inches long. He now wears a size 18 shoe, and his monster-sized meals make his mother’s grocery bill “crazy.”
So was his recruiting.
“You can’t imagine what it’s like until you go through it,” Daylyn Miller said.
Telling Notre Dame no
With enough cards and letters to bend the back of a postal worker, and tons of phone calls, e-mails and text messages, Ryan could have named his school.
Miami and Southern California were among other heavyweights with interest.
When he pared it to CU and Notre Dame, it wasn’t easier. Miller said it must be similar to “picking between a daughter and son.”
Daylyn and Ryan’s father, Bill, were high school sweethearts at Fruita Monument. Daylyn attended grade school in Valparaiso, Ind., not far from the Notre Dame campus in South Bend, Ind. Her father, David Peterson, was a walk-on at CU for a year (1960) and had taken numerous trips with his grandson to Boulder. Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis flew in to visit Ryan.
CU won out in part because Miller is an avid camper and mountain man, and his family will be within an hour.
“It was difficult to say no to Notre Dame, because it’s Notre Dame,” he said. “Most people don’t say no to them. That phone call I made up there the day before committing (to CU), I was shaking on the phone.
“I looked at the other side, and committing to CU was amazing. The weight was lifted off my shoulders. It was indescribable.”
Truth is, Daylyn Miller said, “we couldn’t pull the Colorado out of Ryan.”
Now, her son hopes to help pull the Buffs from a 2-10 season.
“We’re going to bring it back,” Miller said. “As a hometown kid, I want to be able to bring them back from the shadows, what was once a force to where it should be, and stay there.”
Staff writer Tom Kensler contributed to this report.
Recruiting
FOOTBALL
Player School Pos. Ht. Wt. College
Corey Adams Lewis-Palmer OL 6-4 235 Kansas State
Bobby Adamson Byers QB 6-4 280 Neb.-Kearney
Ethan Adkins Douglas Co. OL 6-5 280 Colorado
David Angilau Niwot DT 6-2 260 BYU
Joey Applehans Legacy RB 5-10 190 Mesa State
Alex Applekamp Chaparral TE 6-6 225 N. Colorado
Jeremiah Archuleta Alamosa DB 5-10 155 Adams State
David Arndt Arapahoe OL 6-5 245 Montana
Jeremy Aupperlee Faith Christ. DL 6-3 290 Western State
Josh Aupperlee Faith Christ. LB 6-1 200 Western State
Cody Bakker Mtn. Vista TE 6-3 205 Chadron State
Lawrence Barker T. Jefferson TE 6-4 250 N. Colorado
Chad Benkelman Elbert RB-LB 6-1 200 Chadron State
Brendan Best Eagle Valley LB 6-0 195 Western State
Garrick Biesemeier Haxtun RB-DB 5-9 165 Chadron State
Lloyd Bias Grandview WR 6-1 155 Washburn (Kan.)
Daniel Blackledge Palmer WR 6-1 176 Washington St.
Dustin Bolt Alamosa WR 6-2 200 Adams State
Clint Brewster Mullen QB 6-1 190 Minnesota
Lyle Brown Douglas Co. DB 5-7 170 Montana
Tyler Buzzard Weld Central TE 6-4 240 Fort Hays State
Jared Campbell Overland DB 6-1 190 Miami
Brian Carney Ralston Valley LB 5-11 185 Western State
Matt Carrigan Granada OL 5-9 190 North Dakota
Alex Clark Widefield TE 6-3 285 N. Colorado
Steve Collins Loveland OL-DL 6-3 225 CSU
Sean Conlin Longmont OL 6-5 285 Fort Hays State
Justin Cooper Overland RB 5-11 185 Washburn (Kan.)
Shawn Daniels Mullen OL 6-3 265 Colorado
Tyler Daniels Ranum QB 6-1 175 Western State
Drew Davis Montbello WR 6-2 205 Oregon
David de Besche Northridge RB 5-10 185 Neb.-Kearney
Will Deevy Kent Denver QB 6-5 210 Dartmouth
Gehrick Dickson Legacy TE 6-3 225 Fort Hays State
Luke Diehl Douglas Co. LB 6-1 210 CSU
Zach Donaldson Fort Collins DB 6-1 195 CSU
Nick Dreitz Brush LB 6-2 205 Fort Hays State
John Ellsworth South OL 6-5 270 N. Colorado
Kenny Evora Mesa Ridge S 6-3 220 New Mexico St.
Marcus Felker Thornton DL 6-1 300 Wyoming
Michael Field Wheat Ridge OL 6-5 275 Mesa State
Dan Freismuth Loveland RB 6-0 210 N. Colorado
Kenny Galbearth Mesa Ridge RB 6-1 200 CSU
Kyle Galenza Douglas Co. LB 5-8 165 Mary (N.D.)
Jacob Garbers Broomfield OL 6-5 245 Western State
Clay Garcia Alamosa QB 6-0 215 Colorado Mines
Keiffer Garton Douglas Co. QB 6-3 200 Penn
Miles Gorham Canon City QB 6-3 215 Western State
Brandon Gouin Boulder LB 6-2 210 Air Force
Amal Gumbs Kent Denver OL-DL 6-3 285 N. Colorado
Will Halboth H. Ranch RB 6-0 180 Mesa State
Elias Hammond Lewis-Palmer TE 6-3 220 N.-Kearney
Kyle Harriman Mont.-Cortez DB 6-0 180 Mesa State
David Harris G. Washington RB-SS 6-2 200 Northern Arizona
Anthony Harrison Eaglecrest DB 6-2 200 N. Colorado
Alex Hays Palisade DL 6-3 250 Wyoming
Charles Hayes Eaglecrest OL 6-2 240 Boise State
Brian Hendricks Burlington LB 6-1 210 Wyoming
Max Hewitt Grandview DB 6-1 195 N. Colorado
Ryan Hill Arvada West TE 6-4 230 Nebraska
Travis Hillen Thornton OL 6-5 255 Wyoming
Josiah Hoffman Grand Junct. DB 5-9 185 Mesa St.
Kaither Holiway Douglas Co. WR 6-3 200 Colorado Mines
D.J. Hughes Ranum LB 6-1 180 Western State
William Jewell Air Academy OL 6-3 230 Neb.-Kearney
Wade Johnson Chaparral DB 6-2 185 N. Colorado
Larry Kalcevic Byers LB 5-10 200 Neb.-Kearney
Ian Kane T. Jefferson TE-DE 6-4 230 N. Colorado
Thomas Kankiewicz Fairview K-P 6-0 170 San Francisco JC
Gabe Knapton Skyline LB 6-3 215 Wyoming
Josh Kornmann Dakota Ridge WR 6-0 185 Army
Blake Krenke Pomona LB 6-0 190 Western State
Klay Kubiak Regis QB 6-1 190 CSU
Jon Kuzava Heritage QB 6-0 190 Chadron State
Gabe Lanford Littleton OL 6-5 290 Neb.-Kearney
Jarred Lebsock Yuma OL 6-5 290 Chadron State
Alvin Logan Regis WR-DB 6-2 195 Washington
Nick Lopez Longmont DL 6-3 230 Mesa State
Zach Louden Douglas Co. OL 6-3 265 Harding (Ark.)
Josh Mack Pueblo East DL 6-3 255 N. Colorado
T.J. Martinez Ralston Va. DB 5-11 180 Western State
Alex Mazotti Ralston Va. DB 5-10 180 Western State
Matt McCrystal Ralston Va. OL 6-2 285 Neb.-Kearney
Jarrad McKay Lakewood RB-DB 6-0 180 CSU
Jason McMullin Gateway OL 6-5 260 N. Colorado
Blake Menter Arapahoe DB 5-11 195 Neb.-Kearney
Collin Metz Monarch OL 6-0 285 Western State
Ryan Miller Columbine OL 6-8 310 Colorado
Phil Morelli Mullen RB 5-11 180 CSU
Marcus Morgan Grandview DE 6-3 225 Holy Cross
Andy Nappo Douglas Co. WR 6-3 175 Colorado Mines
Nigel Nelson T. Jefferson RB 5-10 220 N. Colorado
Player School Pos. Ht. Wt. College
Chuks Nweke Jr. Cheyenne Mtn. DB 6-2 190 N. Colorado
Dylan Orms Wheat Ridge QB 6-1 190 N. Colorado
Levi Ostrom Faith Christ. DL 6-5 225 Western State
Alex Paicurich Standley Lake DE 6-2 205 Neb.-Kearney
D. Palan-Johnson Arapahoe DE 6-2 210 Washburn (Kan.)
Anthony Perkins Northglenn DB 5-11 180 Colorado
Evan Pilkington Silver Creek RB 5-8 175 Chadron State
Curtis Prock Douglas Co. TE 6-1 190 Western State
Dan Raunig Mtn. Vista LB 5-9 212 Mesa State
Tucker Reddy Douglas Co. LB 5-9 180 Colorado Mines
Donnie Reed Lakewood WR 5-11 170 Chadron State
Kenny Reed Golden OL 6-6 320 Neb.-Kearney
Ian Reither Douglas Co. DE 6-1 190 Colorado Mines
Caleb Rice Fruita Mon. OL 6-3 295 Western State
Jacob Richmeier Wheat Ridge DL 6-3 290 Mesa State
Colby Riggins Mullen DB 5-10 175 N. Colorado
Derek Rowe Ralston Va. OL 6-4 245 Neb.-Kearney
Josh Ruff Douglas Co. LB 6-0 200 Colorado Mines
Mark Salanky Green Mtn. DE 6-3 240 Mesa State
Justin Salum Arvada West ATH 6-0 189 Air Force
Zach Seibel Mtn. Vista WR 6-1 185 Mesa State
Alex Shapiro Cherry Creek OL 6-2 270 N. Colorado
Lane Shipley Steamboat OL-DL 6-2 245 Dartmouth
Jake Simonton Grand Junct. DB 5-10 175 Mesa State
Bret Skene Mullen WR 5-11 175 Air Force
Branden Skinner Chaparral OL 6-3 255 N. Colorado
Steve Slowick Mtn. Vista DB 5-10 175 Michigan Tech
Kenny Smith Wasson DL 5-10 215 Western State
Nick Snyder Ralston Va. LB 5-11 200 Western State
Jake Spitzlberger Bear Creek QB 5-10 170 Neb.-Kearney
Jahmil Taylor Grandview LB 6-1 195 Washburn (Kan.)
Kyle Theret Mullen LB 5-11 185 Minnesota
Andrew Tidwell Thornton DB 6-3 200 Neb.-Kearney
Austin Trevino Ponderosa OLB 6-1 200 Air Force
Matt Tuten Mtn. Vista WR 5-11 195 Pennsylvania
Nathan Walker C.S. Christian RB 6-0 210 Air Force
Ryan Walstrom Valley OL 6-8 270 Western State
Steve Watson Mullen TE 6-4 235 Michigan
Jeff Watt ThunderRidge OL 6-0 300 Mesa State
Ricky Weaver Falcon WR 6-2 195 Neb.-Kearney
Tanner Whaley Palisade DB 6-1 175 Mesa State
Mike Whitney Douglas Co. WR 6-0 185 Colorado Mines
Colby Will Fairview OL 6-3 280 Mesa State
Marshall Wollum Fairview FS 6-0 185 Western State
Connor Wright Wheat Ridge LB 6-1 215 Mesa State
Alex Uhls Fairview WR 6-3 185 Drake
Matt Yemm Fort Collins QB 5-11 175 CSU
NOTE: Levi Salmans, T, Monarch, will grayshirt at Wyoming; and Mike Kawulok, LB, Monarch, will grayshirt at CSU; Arthur Jaffee, RB, Fairview, will walk-on at CSU.
BASEBALL
T.J. Berge, Dakota Ridge, Yavapai College; Robbie Perry, Arvada, Lamar JC; Cameron Ramsey, Heritage, Trinidad College
BOYS BASKETBALL
Levi Knutson, Arapahoe, Colorado
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Janette Jackson, Thomas Jefferson, Missouri State; Melissa Jones, Legacy, Baylor
CROSS COUNTRY
Steven Busch, Chaparral, Drury (Mo.)
BOYS GOLF
Gunner Wiebe, Kent Denver, San Diego; Steve Ziegler, Legacy, Stanford
BOYS LACROSSE
Tyler Morton, Kent Denver, Denver
GIRLS LACROSSE
Kelly Hopley, Kent Denver, Dartmouth; Kaitlyn Marvel, Golden, Hartwick (N.Y.); Greta Meyer, Kent Denver, Dartmouth; Erin Tochihara, Kent Denver, Princeton
BOYS SOCCER
Josh Belfrage, Mountain Vista, Marquette; Jeb Brovsky, Green Mountain, Notre Dame; Joe Eubanks, Mullen, California-Santa Barbara; Greg Hubbard, Heritage, Northwestern (Iowa); Ben Karnish, Heritage, Northwestern (Iowa); Willis Kingery, Arapahoe, Hastings (Neb.)
GIRLS SOCCER
Kaitlyn Berry, Lewis-Palmer, Saint Rose; Lauren Cavarra, Arapahoe, DU; Haley Cook, Arapahoe, York; Christine Delashmutt, Columbine, Long Island; Linnea Dengah, Grandview, Metropolitan State; Megan Flannery, Arapahoe, DU; Madison Glantz, Ponderosa, Fort Lewis; Karter Haug, Mountain Vista, S. California; Megan Hellrung, Ralston Valley, Mary (N.D.); Hayley Hollenga, Air Academy, Fort Lewis; Alex Hooker, Heritage, Georgia; Brittani Knott, Northridge, Northern Colorado; Brittney MacDonald, Mullen, Miami; Bree Marshall, Lewis-Palmer, Texas Christian; Sam Post, Heritage, Long Island; Laurel Reinhardt, Pagosa Springs, Fort Lewis; Jessica Richardson, Chaparral, Arizona State; Meredith Smith, Mullen, Colorado College
SOFTBALL
Ivory Allen, Thomas Jefferson, Trinidad State; Lauren Hainlen, Chaparral, Metropolitan State; Bianca Holley, Mullen, Regis
VOLLEYBALL
Cassie Crumal, Chaparral, William & Mary; Lindsey Huson, Chaparral, Western State
