Omarion Miller's breakout is no surprise to his high school coach

Omarion Miller has been one of the stories of spring football for Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and Colorado this year. Since he arrived in Boulder last summer, the hype behind Miller’s development has only grown with each passing day. With his freshman season behind him, it’s time for Miller to take over and cash in all his development and potential with Shedeur Sanders and the 2024 Buffs.

I spoke to Miller’s head coach at North Caddo High School, JJ Kavanaugh, about the type of wide receiver Miller is, his breakout performance against USC and much more.

When was the first time you saw Omarion Miller play football?

I saw Omarion play football in middle school. He was the quarterback for the junior high team. I remember talking with him going into his freshman year. There was never a guarantee that he was even going to play football, basketball was always his first love.

How would you describe Miller’s growth throughout the time you coached him?

O was always supremely gifted, but when he started playing seven-on-seven after his sophomore year, things just changed. He really began learning the game of football inside and out, with the help of Reagan Smith our offensive coordinator. He took him under his wing. Football became his priority.

Miller makes things look when he plays, has that always been his play style?

He just glides in and out of his routes and cuts. And then he goes up above everyone else and before you know it he’s 2 feet above the next guy, easily making the catch, it’s just what he does. Playing WR just comes so naturally to him. I think the spatial skills and high-point skills that he has come from his younger days on the basketball court. He just has a feel for how to gain position on defensive backs.

Miller flipped from Colorado to Nebraska and was committed to other schools too. What insights can you share about his college recruitment?

I know his recruitment might seem complicated to an outsider, but it wasn’t all that. Before his junior year, he committed to LSU and Coach Orgeron. During that time he built a strong relationship with Mickey Joseph. Then Orgeron was let go. When Mickey ended up as the interim head coach at Nebraska I think that’s somewhere O felt comfortable. Coach Joseph was let go about the same time that Coach Prime took over at Colorado, it just fell into place almost perfectly. I think almost everybody in his corner agreed that Colorado might be the perfect place for him.

Miller burst onto the scene with nearly 200 vs. USC last year, what was your reaction to that performance?

I remember watching the USC game last year and thinking, that’s just O. He’s doing what he does. He looks like a natural on the football field and I feel like that’s going to carry over to any level he plays on.

What are you expecting out of Miller this season?

My only expectations for Omarion this year are that he helps Colorado win football games, have a good time, and just let the game naturally come to him. He’s going to shine, there’s no doubt in my mind. It’s what he does.