Itap almost impossible for any young football player to get starstruck by the person on the other end of the connection when Deion Sanders hands them a phone.
It is, after all, a football Hall of Famer passing along that phone. Prime Time. Coach Prime. In the football world, the lights rarely get brighter.
Coach Prime, of course, treads the world between athletics and entertainment. So on Monday, when he handed a phone to Omarion Miller, the breakout star of CU’s almost-comeback last week against USC, the freshman receiver didn’t expect to get stunned. What he got was Snoop Dogg.
The conversation with the rap superstar is just one of the countless messages Miller has received since going off against the Trojans during the second half of Saturday’s 48-41 loss.
“Itap been very fun. Every app I open I just see myself,” Miller said on Wednesday during a post-practice media session. “It was crazy. Expecting Coach Prime to tell you somebody wants to get you on the phone, itap Coach Prime. So you know, who’s bigger than that? I get on the phone and Snoop’s on and I’m like, ‘Wow.’
“He was just telling me to keep working. He liked what I did.”
What Miller did was to take over the No. 3 receiver role in a dramatic and wildly successful manner against the Trojans.
Miller received an opportunity after Tar’Varish Dawson and Javon Antonio both went without a reception during the first half against USC. Antonio also was called for an offensive pass interference penalty in the first quarter that wiped out a Dylan Edwards first-down catch on third down (The Buffs still received a first down via a post-play personal foul on USC).
Miller stepped in and nearly stole the show. He made his first career reception with a little more than seven minutes remaining in the third quarter, breaking a tackle after a short completion to record a 65-yard gain. In only 22 minutes of game time, Miller made seven receptions for 196 yards — the eighth most in CU program history and the most ever by a freshman.
According to the Pac-12, Miller’s 196 yards was the most by any conference player in the same game in which he made his first career reception since 1996. On Monday, Miller was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week.
“You’ve got to understand this is a tremendous transition from a high school guy being the guy everywhere he walks in the hallway people are clapping. Ain’t nobody clapping here unless you do something,” Sanders said. “Thatap just the nature of the game.
“I made a point that itap not the expectation that others have. Itap the expectations that you have on yourself that should matter the most.”
Miller at one point had been committed to LSU and Nebraska before pivoting to join Sanders in Boulder. Although Sanders has not been shy about speaking publicly on the practice habits that kept Miller out of the rotation through the first four games. Heading into Saturday’s date at Arizona State (4:30 p.m. MT, Pac-12 Network), the challenge for Miller will be to attempt to build on his memorable debut.
“Like coach said, itap another thing when they don’t expect you to do it,” Miller said. “Now, everybody’s expecting me to do this. I just carry that chip on my shoulder.”
