Ohio State Buckeyes: Urban Meyer pays Braxton Miller the highest praise possible

Updated JUL 30, 2015 at 4:32p ET CHICAGO — Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is not exactly underselling the role Braxton Miller could play this season in his nascent move to H-back/wide receiver. “My expectation is [Miller] will be an impact player,” Meyer said Thursday at Big Ten Media Days. “… For the average guy it’d be very uncommon to [contribute] right out of the gate, but he’s not common. He’s one of the most incredible athletes I’ve ever coached.” Meyer said Miller approached him about a month-and-a-half ago about the possible position change as a “Plan B” in the event his recovery from a major shoulder injury that sidelined him all of last season prevents him from starting preseason camp as a quarterback. That appears to be the case, as Meyer said as of now Miller is primarily focusing on receiver. As allowed by NCAA rules, Meyer and receivers coach Zach Smith have been working with Miller on his footwork, but they can’t yet do anything with a ball. That will change when the Buckeyes begin practice next week. “Day one I will personally work with him myself,” said Meyer. “I was a receivers coach [at Notre Dame].” Ohio State may really need Miller to learn the position quickly. Shortly before Meyer spoke Thursday, the school announced that four players will be suspended for the Buckeyes’ season-opener against Virginia Tech. (Meyer declined to elaborate on the reasons beyond “violations of team policy.”) While All-American Joey Bosa is the headliner among the four, one of the others is last year’s primary H-back and second-leading returning receiver, Jalin Marshall. …

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