braxton miller
injuries
2014 ohio state

ESPN Report: Braxton Miller Out For Season (UPDATE: OSU Confirms) Comment Count

Ace


[Fuller]

ESPN's Brett McMurphy is reporting that Ohio State's Braxton Miller, who multiple outlets confirmed reinjured his right (throwing) shoulder at practice yesterday afternoon, is out for the 2014 season.

NFL.com senior writer Gil Brandt said earlier today that OSU was "expecting" Miller to miss the season, and official word on the matter should come out later today. A Columbus television outlet confirms McMurphy's report, as well. Since last night, Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch—the first reporter to break news of the injury—filled in some details of how the injury occurred:

Neither a team spokesman nor coach Urban Meyer would confirm the news, but sources said that Miller, who had been considered a strong candidate for the Heisman Trophy, suffered the injury while throwing a routine pass. He was not hit, having been off-limits from contact since off-season shoulder surgery.

Miller underwent an MRI this morning, the details of which have yet to be released. There's still no official word from Ohio State.

Before anything else, let me express my deepest sympathies for Miller; he not only faces what appears to be a tough recovery—if he injured the shoulder without any contact, it's likely his injury suffered against Clemson in January never fully healed in the first place—but he's in a very tough spot regarding his pro future.

Miller could take a redshirt and come back in 2015, but there were already serious questions about whether he could be a quarterback at the NFL level; if his best chance to make it is at running back or wide receiver, he's lost a critical year of development and faces a difficult choice: come back to school and take another year of punishment as OSU's QB, or go pro despite coming off a season lost to injury. Here's hoping he fully recovers his past form; he's a truly spectacular player to watch, and college football will be worse off this year without him.

As for the on-field ramifications, Ohio State looks like they'll enter the season with a redshirt freshman starting in Miller's place:

If Miller misses time, redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett currently leads redshirt sophomore Cardale Jones to be the next in at quarterback for Ohio State. Barrett redshirted in 2013 while recovering from a knee injury he suffered in his senior season of high school. Jones appeared in three games last season, completing 1/2 passes for 3 yards and rushing 17 times for 128 yards and a touchdown.

The Buckeyes must also replace RB Carlos Hyde, who rushed for over 1,500 yards in 2013, along with four starters on their offensive line. Their talent should allow them to contend for the Big Ten title anyway, especially if they can shore up their issues on defense under new co-DC Chris Ash, but this certainly hurts their chances at a national title run and likely makes Michigan State the frontrunner for the conference title.

UPDATE: Ohio State has released a statement confirming Miller will miss the 2014 season. Miller is on track to graduate in December; he plans to enroll in graduate school at OSU and return for the 2015 season.

Comments

Ali G Bomaye

August 19th, 2014 at 3:24 PM ^

His career has turned out middle-of-the-pack as far as first overall picks go.  In the last 15 yearrs, I'd say he's clearly better than Eric Fisher, Sam Bradford, JaMarcus Russell, David Carr, Courtney Brown, and Tim Couch, clearly worse than Andrew Luck, Cam Newton, Matt Stafford, Eli Manning, and Carson Palmer, and probably about as valuable as Mario Williams, Jake Long, and Mike Vick.  Smith might be better if he wasn't on absolutely terrible teams for the first five years of his career.

Joined: 07/08/2008

MGoPoints: 17648

bronxblue

August 19th, 2014 at 3:37 PM ^

Vick and Long were dominant at their positions for stretches; Smith has made 1 Pro Bowl (as an alternate) and barely threw more TDs than INTs over his career before last year.  And Fisher is coming off 1 year of play - Smith's first year he threw 11 INTs against 1 TD and completed less than 50% of his passes.  So that seems a bit premature.

He's been a competent backup in this league who gets multiple chances because he went #1.  

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171028

mGrowOld

August 19th, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^

" but this certainly hurts their chances at a national title run and likely makes Michigan State the frontrunner for the conference title."

So fucking glad we got to play back to back road games in EL this year.  I was happy when it was announced and now I'm even more thrilled.

I'm sorry but Brandon should've told the B1G they could stuff it cause we are NOT playing back to back road games against State no matter what.  I'm pretty God-Damn sure that Delaney would've folded if faced with that news going public before it happened and would've not worried so much about how the schedule would be percieved by the Minnesota and Purdue's of the world.

And yes I know.  We're Michigan and just need to go there and beat them.  But damn it anyways - it's a hell of a lot easier to beat them in Ann Arbor.

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 212524

MGoStrength

August 19th, 2014 at 3:06 PM ^

While I'm not gonna defend Brandon on this, I see no reason UM can't beat MSU on the road, and that should be the focus. The game is played where it's played...nothing we can do about it.  If we are scared of MSU there's a problem.  With all the talent in the middle of that defense MSU lost and the guys UM has on defense stepping up, I see no reason UM can't win a close game on the road.  I'm as concerned as the next guy about UM's o-line, but UM should be able to play good defense and if they can just keep the negative plays at bay, not turn the ball over, and get good special teams play...all of which I expect based on personnel and experience, there's no reason UM can't win this game.  At the very least, it's certainly close enough not to be automitaclly calling it a Sparty win.  If you're gonna blame the AD for the play on the field, I think you're missing the point.

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

Mr Miggle

August 19th, 2014 at 3:52 PM ^

but of all the criticisms made of Brandon, this is possibly the worst.

Delaney doesn't rule by fiat. The schedules are approved by a vote of the ADs. If Brandon says we will not play at MSU twice in a row no matter what, what does he have to back that statement up? It's obviously an empty threat. In all likelihood, doing that and running to the media would have just made him and Michigan look foolish.

As someone with experience drawing up schedules, I expect they agreed on a formula that prioritized different variables. Changing the divisions was naturally going to cause some scheduling problems. Having every team play 3 home and 3 away within their division was deemed more important than avoiding consecutive home or away games. Once they've agreed on a formula and a process for generating the schedule, they're not likely to change the results to suit the loudest voice in the room. Indiana might not be happy about coming here twice in a row either. We're far from the only team having to do this.

 

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 47530

OSUMC Wolverine

August 19th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^

Frosh QB, new RB, 4 new Oline (which from what I have read is not going well), poor LB and DB play, questionable depth on Dline.  Outside of their starting Dline and some quickness at wide out this team has little to hang their hat on going into this season.  With their schedule, 10 wins may be possible...but this could turn into an absolute tire fire just as easily.  Time will tell.

Joined: 09/06/2008

MGoPoints: 4403

steve sharik

August 19th, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^

First, I want to say that I think this sucks.  I want to beat them at their best, and this certainly precludes that.  Moreover, feel sorry for the kid to lose a season.

Second, with all due respect, I don't get the logic here:

(I)f his best chance to make it is at running back or wide receiver, he's lost a critical year of development...

I mean, he wouldn't be playing any RB or WR this year, so...?

Also, if his shoulder joint is that weak, I think RB is out of the question for his future, unless he wants to pull a "Lethal Weapon" every week.  Too bad, b/c I think he's the best RB in the NCAA. He just so happens to be a QB.

How about the following scenario: Braxton out, Ohio develops a high quality QB this year, then Braxton comes back to Ohio to play RB or slot?  Can you imagine him in the Harvin-type role?  /shudders

Joined: 08/08/2009

MGoPoints: 13860

WolvinLA2

August 19th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^

DO NOT CARE.

And I doubt it.  If Braxton Miller would have gone pro after last year, would they have said it's not legit?  You lose players in football, that happens.  They will have a full season to get ready for us.  It will be legit.  Are people saying our bowl game loss last year isn't legit?  And if they are, do you think Kansas State fans give a damn?

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

Yinka Double Dare

August 19th, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^

Nope, there's a fund each school has (I forget what it's called) and they are allowed to use it on things like that.  A&M used it to help convince a guy who might have left for the draft to stick around another year by covering a fat insurance policy on him.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 9743

WolvinLA2

August 19th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^

But idiot fans of all teams say stupid stuff after every loss.  You can't control that.  

When I think about whether I want Michigan to win a game or not, I don't first say, "what will the idiot group of opposing fans say on internet message boards if we win" and then make my decision based on that.  I don't care.  In fact, the most dumb excuses they make, the better.  Excuses after losses just sound bitter, even when they're legit.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

FatGuyLittleCoat

August 19th, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^

Unfortunately he has a history of injuries and I'm not surprised by this news. I do feel for him, though, and hope he makes a full recovery and plays many successful seasons in the NFL. As for the rest of the team, it will be interesting to see what happens. Ohio State has a pretty full stock of RBs that can rotate and be potent enough. OSU's QB options look very "meh" and I wouldn't be surprised if they slipped up early to Navy, Cincy, or Virginia Tech. I never like injuries, but these are the type of things that make sports unpredictable.

Joined: 07/05/2011

MGoPoints: 2004

WolverineHistorian

August 19th, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^

Wish Miller the best. And I'll enjoy Buckeye fan tears for now. But we know how often those bastards have avoided disaster when it comes to quarterbacks. Steve Bellisari was pulled for the 2001 Michigan game and they started Craig Krenzall. When Justin Zwick got injured, the Troy Smith era started. If their freshman QB sets the college football world on fire this year, I may have to punch some things. Pull some hair out.

Joined: 08/10/2009

MGoPoints: 55460

Firch

August 19th, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^

This absolutely sucks for the conference/ the game/ etc.  I wish him a speedy recovery and I hope he decides to go pro, if possible. I don't see a reason to stay and risk further injury after this. million dollar policy will come in handy though...

Joined: 06/13/2011

MGoPoints: 819

GoWings2008

August 19th, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^

Sucks that this happened before the season ever started.  I hope he does make it back to playing as soon as possible.  For osu or for a pro team...I don't wish this even on our hated rival.

Joined: 01/26/2011

MGoPoints: 69673

unWavering

August 19th, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^

From 11w: "My theory: losing Braxton (even though he is Heisman-worthy) will benefit all of the surrounding offensive tools that this team has available, and therefore make this team better because we aren't relying on one man to make all of the plays. Braxton could have set all sorts of records this year, but now JT & Co. will spread the wealth; and we might see a whole bunch of studs emerge from this injury. Here's to a speedy recovery for Braxton." That's... Very wishful thinking.

Joined: 01/13/2011

MGoPoints: 22437

KBLOW

August 19th, 2014 at 2:35 PM ^

I really feel for the kid.  So much was put on his back. Yes, Miller was surely the sort to thrive on that pressure, but to not even get a chance to live up to those expectations has really got to hurt him.  Still, in the course of his life if this is as bad as it gets then he should still feel blessed.

As for the OSU fans...they can go straight to hell.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 22391