NEW YORK — Texas A&M All-American linebacker Von Miller was selected second overall in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos on Thursday.
Miller’s selection put him with an elite group of Aggies that were also the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, which is the highest that a Texas A&M player has been selected. Miller joins Quentin Coryatt (Indianapolis Colts, 1992), John David Crow (1958, St. Louis Cardinals) and John Kimbrough (1941, Chicago Cardinals) as second-overall selections from Texas A&M.
“This is a dream come true,” Miller said. “Having my name called for the NFL draft, shaking the commissioner’s hand. I feel very blessed and I am thankful to everyone that has helped me get to this day. It was great having my family here, Coach Mike Sherman and guys who have been with me since I started playing football. I am anxious to get started. Guys that know me know I am ready to get to the locker room, get with my teammates, get with my coaches and just keep working to get better.”
Miller also becomes the Aggies’ first first-round pick since Ty Warren and Sammy Davis were both taken in the 2003 Draft’s first round. Warren was selected No. 13 overall by the New England Patriots, while Davis went No. 30 to the San Diego Chargers. Miller is the 29th Aggies selected in the first round, and the 14th Aggie to go in the top 10. Texas A&M has now produced at least one selection in 26-of-27 possible NFL drafts since 1975.
After leading the nation with 17 quarterback sacks as a junior in 2009, Miller made the decision to return to Texas A&M for his senior campaign. It was an excellent decision for Miller and the Aggies as the defensive playmaker helped bring the “Wrecking Crew” back to Texas A&M. Miller led the Big 12 with 10.5 quarterback sacks despite having a slow start due to an early season ankle sprain. After not logging any sacks in the first four games of the season, Miller posted all 10.5 sacks in the final eight games of 2010, including at least one in the final six games of the season.
He finished the year with 68 total tackles, including 38 solo stops, 17.5 tackles for losses, 10.5 QBS, an interception and six other passes batted down, three forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles. Miller compiled 33 career sacks, which is No. 4 in school history behind Aaron Wallace (42, 1986-89), Jacob Green (37, 1977-79) and John Roper (36, 1985-88).
Quotes from ESPN’s NFL Draft analysts:
“(Miller) is a guy, in (Denver head coach) John Fox’s eyes, that can play every down. You don’t have to take him off for different situations.” –Chris Berman
‘This guy can run and this guy will hit. (Miller) has rare power and explosion. He can play in any defensive front. He played in a 3-4 defense at A&M, but if you watched the Senior Bowl you see he can convert to a 4-3 linebacker and dominate those drills. He’s got active hands and he can use them at full speed. He can almost make himself invisible when he rushes the passer. The Denver Broncos just got a lot better.” –Jon Gruden
“With Miller, you have a ‘fear factor’ player on defense that you’ve got to account for.” — Mel Kiper Jr.
“Von Miller is a special player. If you looked at who the consensus No. 1 player was in this draft, Von Miller was that guy.” — Kiper Jr.
“He’s got some Derrick Thomas-type qualities. I’ve seen this guy ruin games. He’s for real as a pass rusher. John Fox will use Von Miller all over the field, in their nickel and in their base. — Gruden
“He can play on his feet, he can put his hand down and rush. There’s a lot of versatility and firepower in Von Miller. I had him as the No. 1 player in this draft. I’m envious of the Denver Broncos. If they get that crowd noise in the game, this guy will be a special pass rusher…double digit sacks, I think, for Von Miller.” — Gruden
Von Miller comments:
“This is a dream come true. Having my name called for the NFL draft, shaking the commissioner’s hand. I feel very blessed and I am thankful to everyone that has helped me get to this day. It was great having my family here, Coach Mike Sherman and guys who have been with me since I started playing football. I am anxious to get started. Guys that know me know I am ready to get to the locker room, get with my teammates, get with my coaches and just keep working to get better.”
Is there any concern about playing in a 4-3 as opposed to a 3-4?
“Whatever they want me to do, I will do. I will do it to the best of my abilities. Football on the defensive side of the football is still about shedding blocks and making tackles.”
Is dropping in coverage a concern?
“I will do whatever it takes. At Texas A&M what was best for our team was for me to rush the quarterback. I did drop some in coverage and I believe I can be successful. If I need to cover a slot receiver I think I can stay with him. Whatever it takes, I am ready to get to work.”
What do you know about the Denver fans?
“From what I understand the Denver fans are a lot like Texas A&M fans. They really support their team and players and the fans are loud. We have great fans with the 12th Man at Texas A&M and they really help a player maximize your effort. I imagine that is the same up in Denver.”
Do you think you will have some Texas A&M fans in the Denver area?
“One thing I know about Aggie fans, they are loyal. The Aggie network is strong and I look forward to having them yelling for me in Denver. I am very blessed.”
On playing for Texas A&M Head Coach Mike Sherman
“It was an extreme blessing. My teammates and everybody at Texas A&M, we all had the upper hand having a guy with his expertise and his point of view about how to make it to the NFL and how to be a pro. We ran our team like a pro team, and it was great.”
Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman comments:
“I am very excited that Von Miller was selected with the second pick in this year’s draft by the Denver Broncos. He is a great fit for them, and the Broncos are a great fit for him. I know he is excited and honored to be a part of that organization. He is looking forward to playing for head coach John Fox. This has been fun for me to personally see it all come to fruition this evening. I am so happy for him and his family. They have always kept things in perspective.
“This didn’t just happen overnight. Von has put a lot of effort, thought and determination into making this happen.
“Over the last year, I have seen Von mature both as a football player and as a person. He now sees the big picture. He is the perfect example of something we often talk about- ‘the more you give; the more you get’. He has become beloved by Aggies everywhere because people have taken notice that at no time this past season has it ever been about him. It’s always been about his teammates, his coaches, and Texas A&M. It’s always been about giving back. His unselfish attitude, his love for his teammates and his school, define him even more than his superior talent.”
What does this mean for the Texas A&M football program?
“Initially, it means we lost a great player and someone needs to step up and fill his shoes. Von’s postseason run — the Butkus Award, Senior Bowl, Combine, Pro Day, and now the NFL Draft; has brought great exposure to our program and to Texas A&M. Although the spotlight shines on him, he has always redirected back to his teammates and his school.”
What does Von Miller bring to the table for the Denver Broncos?
“Von brings a freakish talent and skill level to his position. His relentless ability to bend, torque his body and turn the corner on his 4th step, while maintaining his balance with his toe pointed at the quarterback is uncanny for a pass rusher. We didn’t ask him to drop much into coverage because we wanted him affecting the quarterback’s rhythm and timing, but that doesn’t mean he can’t do it. He’d line up and play corner in practice against our receivers just messing around and he was able to hold his own. If we let him do it, he would have been great tight end, as well as punt returner and kick returner. He has excellent hands. He could have played running back at the major college level because he has great feet, a low center of gravity, and unbelievable balance. In spite of all this, he has just started to come into his own as a player. What he has done so far on the field is just the tip of the iceberg. Even though the NFL is a giant step forward, the best is yet to come for Von Miller. He has exciting potential.
“Off the field, as well as on, he is a great teammate. He is loved in the locker room for his humor, his big heart and his loyalty to his teammates. He has a tremendous respect for the game of football. One of our very first conversations we had together when I first got to Texas A&M was about this night. I do believe not a day has passed in the last three years that he didn’t dream about hearing his name called out on Draft Day. Having talked to him I know he is excited about being a member of the Denver Broncos organization.”