Miller Working His Way Back

Go to any sports news site and you can find extensive coverage of recruiting classes, but the hoopla of the late winter is fleeting.

It’s the four or five years of hard work and determination that will determine whether the stars of February become champions in January.

For Redondo offensive lineman John Miller, his road to the collegiate gridiron did not begin on National Signing Day, Feb. 2, but November 12th.

Miller, the Sea Hawks’ starting center for three years, had been watching countless hours of video, preparing for his biggest test of the year against the defending Bay League champion and rival Mira Costa Mustangs.

Miller would lineup against J.R. Tavai, CIF defensive player of the year and eventual USC recruit, but Miller’s work would be put to use for all of three plays.

“I was watching tape and putting in extra study time for him. J.R. has a big motor and I was up for the challenge, I’m not one to back down from anything,” Miller said.

Battling in the trenches, Miller got tangled up and snapped his fibula. The force from the break caused a dislocation of his left ankle and tore the surrounding ligament.

Instead of having the chance to showcase his ability against the Bay League's best, Miller’s career at Redondo was over in a flash.

“Football has been my life since I was seven years old. It was snatched away from me just like that,” Miller said.

Miller would be in a full cast for six weeks, followed by three weeks in a walking cast before he was finally able to walk without any reinforcements.

“It’s uncomfortable and it hurts, but I’m fighting through the pain and dealing with the swelling,” Miller said.

The surgeon informed Miller he was fortunate to suffer a clean break without any splintering and requiring just two screws.

Miller relegated himself mostly to his room for the first few days following his surgery, but was able to move past his misfortune and jump head first into the rehab process.

“I took it head on. I had a lot of help and support from my family and friends,” Miller said.

Instead of focusing on football training, Miller has been required to focus his time and effort on rehabbing, with twice-a-week physical therapy looking to get him back and healthy for the summer.

“I’ve been doing lots of bike riding, strength and range of motion work and it’s coming along,” Miller said.

Miller, an admittedly competitive person, has taken his intensity and toughness from the football field, where he played both offense and defense, into the rehabilitation process.

“My mother Susan Jimenez, girlfriend Krystle Lewis and godfather Lorenzo Sanchez have offered me words of wisdom and the support I need when things are tough. They have really helped out,” Miller said.

Miller has also taken an optimistic outlook, seeing the experience as reinforcing his original goal of wanting to study sports medicine in college.

“It’s been a good experience in the sense that I want to help out other young people who go through serious injuries so they can recover their ability,” Miller said.

Miller still looks back fondly on the 2010 football season, one in which he received a nod to the All CIF Northern Division team and helped the Sea Hawks not only on the field but as a leader in the locker room.

“John really gained the respect of his teammates as a senior and fell in line with the system and did what was expected of him and beyond,” Redondo head coach Gene Simon said.

“In the past, I was a bit hesitant to come forth in a leadership role, but my teammates gave me confidence by voting me a captain this year,” Miller said.

During the season, the 6’4” Miller played at 306 pounds. He wants to drop about 15 pounds to improve his speed in hopes that he can draw more attention from collegiate coaches.

“My footwork is good, I just think I lacked a little speed this season,” Miller said.

“If he can improve his athleticism and flexibility, that will be key.  He has the combination of size, strength and major college ability to succeed,” Simon said.

The recruitment process has not been as fruitful as Miller would like, but it's not surprising considering the timing of his injury near the end of the season.

Simon believes that the big-man has great potential and that whoever takes a chance on Miller will be rewarded.

“He has good upside. He is only going to improve," Simon said. "I think he’s a little under the radar in terms of his mobility.  On film he really shows ability between the hashes and could probably play defensively in the right scheme.” 

Miller says he doesn’t have a preference playing either the offensive or defensive line. He just wants the opportunity to help a team.

“I love playing football. You have to drag me off the field," Miller said. "Playing both ways, I was able to read players opposite my position and learn from them on how I could improve on both sides.” 

“It’s been a little bit rough, I haven’t had the contact I would like with some of the coaches, but I just have the goal of playing Division I football and am going to keep doing what I have to to realize that goal,” Miller said.