By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Penny Hornets Jacob Miller will continue his football career at the Division one level, signing with the Northwestern Wildcats.
Miller says though, his decision to go to Northwestern came down more to the academics provided in Evanston
“I’ve always been big in the classroom, so the academics is a nice part of it,” Miller tells reporters. “And also, the winning mentality they have over there, on my visit I just kind of got to witness it first person and I just felt like it was the place for me.”
Miller played tight end and defensive end during his career in Hamilton but will shift to left tackle for the Wildcats.
Miller says when he received a text from Northwestern general manger Christian Sarkisian he thought he was being recruited at tight end. Instead Sarkisian wanted him at offensive tackle.
“I feel like I have a higher ceiling at that position, so ultimately I’m grateful for it,” Miller says.
Through his career however, the hope is Miller can bulk up and eventually move to play tight end at Northwestern.
Head coach Kieth Alberti says the Wildcats are getting a player on their team who is relentless in everything that he does
“He’s always out there, he’s working his tail off in everything that we do, and you know he’s very gifted in regard to that and he’s going to work to put himself in the right position to make things happen,” Alberti explains.
Even in just one year, after coming to Hamilton this season, Alberti says he saw growth in Miller getting to coach him
“First practice in June we knew what Jake was, and I got to see him previously when I was down in Higginsville, but I really got to see him grown and put forth the effort and put himself in the right position to be successful and you really saw that continue to grow from week one all the way through to the end of the season,” Alberti says.
Miller is the first Division one signee from Hamilton since Kellen Overstreet signed with Wyoming in 2014. Miller says this means everything to him.
“Been working hard all my life to get to this position,” Miller says
Miller says to be considered a role model for younger kids getting an opportunity like this, is really cool
“When I was younger I kind of looked up to those guys, so to kind of be in their shoes it’s an honor,” Miller proudly says.
Miller helped lead the Hornets to the state title game last season, where Hamilton finished second place.
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