Drelon Miller is finishing his freshman year of college in the same stadium where he wrapped up his senior year of high school.
On Saturday, the 20th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes will face No. 17 BYU in the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio (5:30 p.m. MT, ABC).
For Miller and a lot of his teammates, it will be somewhat of a homecoming, as 16 Buffs either grew up in Texas or went to high school in the Lone Star State. That’s a group that includes star quarterback Shedeur Sanders and his brother, Shilo, a starting safety.
This game has some special meaning to Miller, though.
“I just played in the Alamodome for the All-American game, so it’ll be fun to be back out there,” said Miller, who played in the high school all-star game on Jan. 6 before joining the Buffs.
One of the top players in the country coming out of Silsbee (Texas) High School a year ago, Miller has certainly made his mark on the Buffs (9-3) this year, especially in recent games.
A versatile receiver who can also line up at running back, Miller has caught 31 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns. That includes a six-catch, 108-yard performance against Utah on Nov. 16 at Folsom Field.
“It meant a lot to me (to play right away),” he said. “Coming out of high school, I expected to play early. That was always my goal. So just to come here and show the world what I can do early, it meant a lot for me.”
CU is led by a quartet of veteran receivers – Jimmy Horn, Jr., Travis Hunter, Will Sheppard and LaJohntay Wester – but Shedeur Sanders has proven he will throw to young players he trusts. Before an injury, Omarion Miller was a go-to target, and Drelon Miller earned the same level of trust.
“It meant a lot, honestly, just to show the coaches and everyone and get my trust from Shedeur,” Miller said. “He trusts me in critical moments and once you get that trust from the quarterback, a lot goes up from there. So I appreciate that, increasing my role on the offensive side of the ball.”
The Buffs’ four veteran receivers, as well as Shedeur, will all wrap up their collegiate careers on Saturday against BYU. But, with both Millers expected to return, CU could have a loaded receiver group again in 2025.
“It’s gonna be exciting to see all the young guys,” Sheppard said. “A bunch of years ahead of them, already making plays. So it’s gonna be exciting.”
Drelon Miller earned the right to play in the Alamodome a year ago as a high school star. He’s also earned the right to play a role in the Alamo Bowl this year, but he’s hoping Saturday’s game is a springboard into an even bigger season in 2025.
“I feel like going into next year and the rest of my years, I feel like I grow as a leader, or just a better person,” he said. “So much I learned from these seniors and everyone else leaving; not just the seniors, but everyone transferring. I learned so much from the guys.”
That’s why, before this year comes to a close, he hopes to enjoy one last big game with the veterans who taught him so much.
“Our expectation is to dominate,” he said. “That’s all we talk about in the room. Our motto is SOB, and that’s ‘stand on business.’ So we’re just gonna dominate. We know what we’ve got to do to win this game. We’ll go take it play by play.”
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