Ohio State Buckeyes

Urban Meyer pays Braxton Miller the highest praise possible

Published Jul. 30, 2015 3:40 p.m. ET

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Stewart Mandel

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.

Miller has never caught a pass during his Ohio State career, but he did run for 3,054 yards -- 5.5 per attempt even with negative sack yards included -- from 2011-13.

Many have made an obvious comparison to the way Meyer utilized another speedy hybrid receiver, Percy Harvin, during his time at Florida. When a reporter Thursday suggested Miller was the "best" athlete Meyer's ever coached, Meyer quickly corrected him, joking "Percy will text me" if he believed Meyer said that.

But he does hold Miller in the same exalted category as Harvin.

"I don't think I've been around a more dynamic athlete [than Harvin]," said Meyer, "but you can use Braxton Miller in the same [breath]."

Ohio State tackle Taylor Decker said Thursday it will be “weird” seeing his team’s former quarterback at a new position, especially since Decker, a Vandalia, Ohio, native, has known Miller as a quarterback since both played at nearby high schools. But it could also be “a cool moment.”

“I have a ton of respect for him being able to humble himself and make a position change for the betterment of the team,” he said. “I think it will be a cool moment. The fans and the stadium are going to go crazy just seeing No. 5 out there.”

We'd long assumed Meyer's biggest challenge this preseason would be deciding a starting quarterback. The J.T. Barrett-Cardale Jones decision still looms, but now, teaching a two-time All-Big Ten quarterback a new position -- not to mention getting Bosa's understudies ready for Virginia Tech -- is suddenly a priority as well.

Stewart Mandel is a senior college sports columnist for FOXSports.com. He covered college football and basketball for 15 years at Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on Twitter @slmandel and Facebook. Send emails and Mailbag questions to Stewart.Mandel@fox.com.

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