OTH FIRST ELEVEN 2020: No. 1 Nick Miller

We have reached No. 1 in our countdown of Outside the Huddle’s First Eleven, our annual preseason crowning of the top 11 players in northeast Indiana.

Our highest preseason honor, this is the second-annual First 11 list.

No. 1: Nick Miller, South Adams – Senior, LB/DE

Blitz can hear the shocked gasps from his den.

Nick Miller the best player in northeast Indiana?

In Blitz’s mind, yes he is.

The senior two-way stud is a complete player. He has the size and hands to be a mismatch at tight end. He has the physicality and finishing ability to thrive at the hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end spot. He has the deceptive quickness that comes in hand on both sides of the football.

At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Miller is a Division I prospect in Blitz’s mind. He is a Rob Gronkowski-type player at the high school level, a mismatch when lined up against linebackers, which he sees often because of the other weapons South Adams has.

In 2019, Miller caught 35 passes for 822 yards and eight touchdowns. He should eclipse all three marks in 2020.

Defensively, Miller finished with 66 tackles, 20.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks. He also forced four fumbles, recovered three fumbles and blocked a pair of punts. The senior can also pick up a slot or a receiver in the backfield if need be.

A complete player, Nick Miller would be a household name if he played in Allen County as opposed to Berne. But that doesn’t make him any less of a dominant football player.

COACH’S QUOTE ON NICK MILLER

“Nick Miller is probably the most underrated player in the state. We have never had an athlete like him at South Adams. The mixture of size, speed and strength is unmatched in our class. He deserves this spot and I believe he will prove it this year.” – South Adams coach Grant Moser

These opinions represent those of Blitz and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Blitz on Twitter at Blitz_OTH

PREVIOUS TOP 50 FOOTBALL COUNTDOWN LISTS

Players No. 50-46

Players No. 45-41

Players No. 40-36

Players No. 35-31

Players No. 30-26

Players No. 25-21

Players No. 20-16

Players No. 15-12

OTH FIRST ELEVEN 2020: No. 11 Jared Kistler

OTH FIRST ELEVEN 2020: No. 10 James Arnold

OTH FIRST ELEVEN 2020: No. 9 Landen Livingston

OTH FIRST ELEVEN 2020: No. 8 Vinny Fiacable

OTH FIRST ELEVEN 2020: No. 7 Joe Collier

OTH FIRST ELEVEN 2020: No. 6 Devon Tippmann

OTH FIRST ELEVEN 2020: No. 5 DJ Moore

OTH FIRST ELEVEN 2020: No. 4 Duce Taylor

OTH FIRST ELEVEN 2020: No. 3 Jeff Becker

OTH FIRST ELEVEN 2020: No. 2 Braeden Hardwick