Drelon Miller is who Deion Sanders wants to recruit more of

Drelon Miller hasn’t had to wait long to show the college football world what he’s capable of.

Deion Sanders has made it clear that he expects true freshmen to contribute right away, and Miller has taken advantage of his opportunities.

“When we grab a freshman, we expect that guy to play,” Deion Sanders said on Nov. 12. “We’re not looking at ‘Hey, man, we can just redshirt you and develop you.’ No, we’re looking for you to come in and play some football. I don’t give a darn if it’s a walk-on, if it’s a Cash Cleveland. We expect you to play.”

Drelon Miller was involved right away in Week 1 during Colorado’s season-opening win over North Dakota State (four total touches), but the 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver has become a focal point of the Buffs’ offense in recent weeks.

Viewed as a Deebo-Samuel-type-of-player by both himself and Deion Sanders, Miller caught a career-high six passes for 108 yards during a Week 12 win over Utah. His 47-yard touchdown catch and run where he broke multiple tackles and threw defenders off of him looked like a grown man playing against children.

The only difference is that the grown man in this scenario was a true freshman, and the children were the Big 12’s No. 1 scoring defense.

“That felt amazing,” Drelon Miller said of his touchdown vs. Utah. “That wasn’t nothing new to me, though. I’ve been doing that, I was just waiting to show the world what I can do.

“I was proud to do that and show everybody what I can do.”

Drelon Miller is right. He’s been making highlight plays for a while now, and it’s why Deion Sanders wanted him in Boulder.

The former Silsbee (Texas) star played all over the field — wide receiver, running back, wildcat QB, defensive back, returner — and accounted for 4,409 yards of total offense (3,571 receiving, 778 rushing, 60 passing) during his high school career.

Miller has been utilized at both receiver and running back this season, showcasing a versatility that Deion Sanders values.

“He’s like a Deebo Samuel, man,” Deion Sanders said after the Utah win. “He can play the slot, he can play out wide, he can get in the backfield, he can go wildcat. I mean, the kid is talented and he’s a freshman.

“The older players have taken him under their wing and they make sure that he gets it right, that he knows his assignments and alignments. The kid practices his butt off every day so I’m so proud of him.”

Senior receiver Will Sheppard is one those veteran players who have taken Drelon Miller under his wing.

The Vanderbilt transfer racked up over 2,000 career receiving yards across four seasons in the SEC and has noticed the game slow down for the freshman in recent weeks.

“His production the past couple of games has picked up so the game is getting slower for him which is making him play better, play faster and without having to think,” Sheppard said of Drelon Miller on Tuesday. “When you can play without having to think, you’re going to do things freely and be able to make plays. That’s what he’s been doing.”

Earning the trust of a projected top-five NFL draft pick like Shedeur Sanders isn’t easy, but Drelon Miller has done it as a true freshman.

How? Because he listens.

“Drelon gives a different vibe when he gets out there,” Shedeur Sanders said after the Utah win. “The thing that I love about Drelon is that he’s young but he listens.

“The small things that we work on and talk about, whenever it’s actually in the game and we execute it, it’s a real joyful moment because he understands the ‘why.’”

The trust that Shedeur Sanders and Drelon Miller have built was on full display again last week vs. Kansas. The true freshman caught all five of his targets, including two spectacular receptions, for 44 yards and a touchdown.

Miller’s first highlight of the day was a toe-tapping catch along the sideline, flashing elite body control and concentration.

Just three plays later, Miller elevated over a defender to haul in a 19-yard touchdown. It was his second straight week with a touchdown and his third in the last five games.

If Miller is making plays like this as a true freshman, it’s scary to think about what he’ll be capable of after a full offseason in the Buffs’ strength and conditioning program.

The Swiss-army knife will likely be a favorite target of five-star QB commit Julian Lewis next year, and if it was possible, Deion Sanders would recruit five more Drelon Millers to Colorado.

“He’s phenomenal,” Deion Sanders said of Drelon Miller after the Kansas loss. “He’s showing up and showing out. The moment is not too big for him. He plays hard, he practices hard, he’s smart and doesn’t make many mental errors.

“I love the kid, man. We want to recruit more of those type of young men.”

Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.

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