Following his best season in an already stellar career as Ball State University's punter, Chris Miller was named to the Playboy Magazine Preseason All-American team Wednesday for the second consecutive year.
Miller, who will be a fifth-year senior this fall, recorded numerous All-American honors during the past two years with the Cardinals. However, he said being named to the Playboy team for a second time carries special significance.
"It's kind of surreal to me to be on the team for the second straight year," Miller said. "Not a lot of people have done that. I think it kind of sets my goals higher for the upcoming season. I know it's a preseason award, but what I really want to strive for is the postseason awards. So getting a preseason award just motivates me to achieve my goals."
As a junior, Miller averaged 45.4 yards per punt, the third-highest mark in the nation and slightly above his career average of 45.1 yards per attempt. Supplementing his power, Miller also placed 23 of his 61 punts inside the 20-yard line with just 10 touchbacks.
Despite his great play on the field, Cardinals' coach Brady Hoke said, Miller is important to Ball State's football team for more reasons that just punting the football.
"You can take the physical things he does, being a nationally ranked punter, but I think the leadership Chris has brought with his maturity as a fifth-year senior is as important as anything," Hoke said. "Chris' demeanor and work ethic and the things he does in the context of the team separate him from other guys."
While Miller said he strives to provide leadership to the entire team, his primary focus is centered on the Cardinals' special team's players. Last season he particularly focused on aiding Ball State's two young field goal kickers - Jake Hogue and Ian McGarvey - both of which had turbulent seasons.
"I'm always with the kickers and punters and snappers, so they look up to me," Miller said of his younger teammates. "They always ask me what's going on and what to say when the coach yells at them."
Miller is the second player in Ball State history to be named to the Playboy team. The first, former punter Brad Maynard, is Miller's role model and serves as a benchmark for the young punter to strive for.
"He won a bunch of awards, and I want to do it like he did," Miller said. "He's a great role model for me. I talk with him as much as I can, just trying to get as much information as I can from him. He's one of the best punters the NFL has had, and I really look up to him."
Like Maynard, Miller said his desire is to leave a legacy behind after he leaves Ball State for a probable career in the NFL. While Miller has set individual goals for himself, most of his goals for his final season are centered around the team's success.
"I want people to look back 10 years from now and see that I was part of one of the best teams Ball State ever had," Miller said. "We have the talent to do that this year. ... I also want to be known for what I've accomplished here. I want to show how a punter can change a game - kind of how Maynard did it."
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