From foster care to the Ivy League to the NFL: Meet Dante Miller, the newest New York Giant
QuoteFor almost anyone else, this would have been a story about how an honest mistake and an inflexible bureaucracy robbed a football player of his chance to prove he deserved an opportunity to play in the NFL. But this is a Dante Miller story, so it ends with him signing with an NFL team anyway.
No matter the circumstances, Dante Miller wins.
He already overcame an entire world that seemed rigged against him from the start. He emerged from foster care, matriculated in the Ivy League and the SEC and as of Friday, Miller is a New York Giant.
There were times these past 18 months when that last part seemed impossible. Thanks to a miscalculation by South Carolina's compliance department and the NCAA's hamfisted version of justice, Miller was pulled off the field in 2022 and didn't find his way back until South Carolina's pro day last month.
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https://www.on3.com/news/from-foster-care-to-the-ivy-league-to-the-nfl-meet-dante-miller/
RB Dante Miller (5'9 190): This was the most impressive performance of the day. Hell, maybe of all the pro days this year. Nicknamed "Turbo", Miller lived up to that name as he was timed officially at 4.27! Which would've been the second fastest of the combine. He didn't stop there as he did 28 reps of 225, which is about as strong as sub 200 pounders get. Add in a 37.5" Vert and 10'9 broad jump. Miller did not play last season due to eligibility issues. In 2022, he only had 6 Carries for 38 yards. His best season was 2021, where he gained 809 yards on 145 touches. He's not projected to be drafted, I don't even think he's a priority UDFA, but after that performance, someone will hopefully give him a chance.
https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1bdd8ij/south_carolina_players_blow_up_pro_day/
What a cool story. It would be amazing if things worked out for the young man.
No risk signing of a guy that has a lot he wants to prove to the world and has some physical gifts.
Kind of curious as to why the Giants were able to sign him now and didn't have to wait until after the draft. Is it because of his eligibility issue?
Quote from: uconnjack8 on April 05, 2024, 01:32:20 PMNo risk signing of a guy that has a lot he wants to prove to the world and has some physical gifts.
Kind of curious as to why the Giants were able to sign him now and didn't have to wait until after the draft. Is it because of his eligibility issue?
From the article
A long shot to make a camp suddenly looked like a player who might be a late-round draft pick. Scouts absolutely noticed Miller after pro day. Everyone had questions. But one scout called Miller's agent Tom Mills with the most interesting question: Are you SURE your client is even draft eligible?
So Mills checked with the NFL. Because of the eligibility gaffe, Miller was not eligible for the upcoming draft. He should have been in last year's draft, and failing that, he was eligible for last year's supplemental draft (though no one knew it). That meant Miller wasn't a potential late-round pick. He was a free agent, free to sign with any team he wished right now.
I looked up his date of birth
Dante Davon Miller was born on May 14, 1999
So he will be a 25-year-old rookie (at least he should have tread left on his tires due to lack of playing time)
Amazing story. Speed always has a chance. He gets a head start on any late round pick/UDFA RBs and he will certainly give it everything he has. It would be nice for us and for him if we have got lucky here.
Super fast and very strong :ok: ...and being small actually makes him difficult to catch by bigger defensive backs, but also prone to injury. It'll be very interesting to watch how he does this coming season, assuming he makes the cut. Great story
(https://i.postimg.cc/dV2WMkp1/Miller-Dante.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bZv0kJzc)
(https://i.postimg.cc/HLPv3GF4/FC0rip-IWEAE0-TN.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/f3mvTPzJ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/JnZTLJGq/big-37-W2856.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Having played for Columbia automatically makes him my favorite Giants player. Eat your heart out, Saquon. <:-P
Cheers!
He's shifty. Here's a sample of what he can do. To some Lil Durk...
Seems like a good change-of-pace back. Don't see him as a workhorse back. I wonder if he can catch and if he can, I wonder if he'd make a good return man on STs
Great story that is sure to make the many local news outlets here in NYC. George Starke could be the Lion with the most success in the NFL(Sid Luckman was before my time :D). He was a stalwart RT on the Washington Hogs for 12 years and played in 3 SBs. He was also the starting center on the Columbia BBall team and I had the chance to see him in person a few times when the Lions travelled north to Rose Hill.
While we're at it we should add Marcellus Wiley, I s'pose
Cheers!
This guy just became the most interesting player in the team. Giants Nation will go bonkers for him. Best part is he legitimately has a shot. Giants are thin at talent there.
Quote from: Painter on April 05, 2024, 04:02:30 PMWhile we're at it we should add Marcellus Wiley, I s'pose
Cheers!
Forgot about him
Great story! Thanks for sharing!!
So style (and hopefully production )wise are we looking at a Little Joe type or an Ahmad Bradshaw?
If he fills either set of cleats we win.
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We need a new good against-all-odds RB story on this team with Sandro Platzgummer fever now a thing of the past.
Quote from: DaveBrown74 on April 05, 2024, 05:28:09 PMWe need a new good against-all-odds RB story on this team with Sandro Platzgummer fever now a thing of the past.
Funny but the guy I am thinking of is Dave Megett. When the Giants drafted in a latter round and he went onto success, I remember reading that Washington fired their Baltimore area scout because they were so mad he was not even on their radar. He went to Towson State University.
https://youtu.be/uDAssmrfcek?feature=shared
Highlights from the young man's personal youtube channel
Seems like a 1 cut back just like Singletary, Gray, and Corbin.
Completely comfortable letting those 4 Duke it out in camp and preseason. We've got to start developing cheap talent that hits.
Quote from: Jclayton92 on April 05, 2024, 07:42:37 PMSeems like a 1 cut back just like Singletary, Gray, and Corbin.
Completely comfortable letting those 4 Duke it out in camp and preseason. We've got to start developing cheap talent that hits.
I'll be very surprised if we don't draft a RB this year. I'm not suggesting they will use a high pick, but I think you'll see them take one by the 4th or 5th round. Singletary is a decent back but he's a complementary/committee guy. They'll need someone else who they're fairly confident is NFL caliber. There really isn't anyone else you can confidently say that about in this room right now. I personally think they'll want another option. I guess the alternative would be a late camp cutdown type guy on the cheap, but my personal prediction is they'll draft someone in the mid to later rounds.
I read somewhere we're ST coaches have been dissecting the new KO rules and already designing returns they feel would work well. The feeling is smaller, really fast guys might be extremely effective and Miller certainly qualifies on both counts
https://x.com/DDuggan21/status/1776587742874386740?s=20
Dave Megett and Ahmad Bradshaw vibes.
If he can catch out of the backfield and pass protect, he has a chance of sticking.
Is Marty Domres still available as a back-up? We can send Mr. Peabody and Sherman in the Way Back Machine <> to retrieve the All-Ivy league qb from 1968..too. ROAR Lions!
Quote from: DaveBrown74 on April 05, 2024, 08:05:47 PMI'll be very surprised if we don't draft a RB this year. I'm not suggesting they will use a high pick, but I think you'll see them take one by the 4th or 5th round. Singletary is a decent back but he's a complementary/committee guy. They'll need someone else who they're fairly confident is NFL caliber. There really isn't anyone else you can confidently say that about in this room right now. I personally think they'll want another option. I guess the alternative would be a late camp cutdown type guy on the cheap, but my personal prediction is they'll draft someone in the mid to later rounds.
Fingers crossed for Jaylen Wright from Tennessee in the draft.
Quote from: Philosophers on April 07, 2024, 09:17:30 AMFingers crossed for Jaylen Wright from Tennessee in the draft.
I'm a fan of his as well. If we somehow got him in the fourth I'd be stoked.