ROCKINGHAM — No great journey is without its trials and tribulations or moments of triumph and gratitude. That adage rings true for Dante Miller as his quest to enter professional football is nearing its next checkpoint.
A story filled with talent and success, marred recently by an unsuspecting speed bump, Miller hopes to earn his spot in the National Football League.
Close to fulfilling many young athletes’ dreams, the former Richmond Senior High School running back declared for the NFL Draft on Dec. 8.
While the road has gotten shorter for Miller and the end game is in sight, the 5-10, 200-pound former Division I running back knows that it won’t get any less challenging.
If successful, Miller would become the third former Raider player to make it to the NFL since 2009. The other former Raiders were Melvin Ingram (18th overall pick in 2012) and Dannell Ellerbe (undrafted free agent in 2009).
“This is something that’s been a long time coming,” Miller smiled. “After I graduated from Columbia (University), I had the New York Giants and some other teams looking at me. I had considered entering the Draft then.
“I talked with my family and we decided it was best for me to go to South Carolina to continue working toward that goal,” he continued. “I’ve spent the past two years becoming the best possible football player I can be.”
A two-time All-Conference tailback for the Raiders, Miller used his four years of varsity football in kelly green and gold to launch himself into the Division I circuit.
After graduating from Richmond in 2018, Miller played football and ran track at Columbia University in New York City during his undergraduate career.
Earning an Ivy League degree in sociology and economics, he traded one Columbia for another and joined the University of South Carolina’s football program as a graduate student transfer walk-on.
In his final of three seasons at Columbia, Miller was named First Team All-Ivy League in 2021 and was named the team’s player of the year. Over 26 career games with the Lions (2018-2021), he ran for 1,281 yards on 258 carries with six touchdowns.
Miller, a three-year letterman, is ranked No. 9 all-time in Columbia’s record book for career rushing yards and is No. 4 all-time in yards per carry (5.0).
Playing for the Gamecocks during the 2022 season, Miller made appearances in the first six games of the season. He carried the ball six times for 38 yards (6.3 yards per carry) and his longest run of the season was 23 yards against South Carolina State University.
But then unfortunate circumstances struck when Miller discovered a hiccup with his eligibility.
“We all thought I had two years of eligibility left, so after the sixth game of the year I sat the rest of the season,” Miller explained. “But I only had one year left and my waiver was denied in May (2023).
“USC was supportive after the fact, especially since I had to sit out the 2023 season,” he added. “Fortunately, I was still able to work out and train with the team and I served as a sort of running back coach.”
Remaining at USC, Miller earned scholarship status and completed masters degrees in sports management and business administration.
Not deterred by his ineligibility, Miller put his nose to the grindstone and used the experience as a positive life lesson.
“Not being able to play that final season allowed me to better understand the game from both sides, which is something an NFL running back has to be able to do,” Miller said. “I learned a lot about defensive schemes and the reasons why we do what we do.
“I not only continued to develop as a player, but I developed my football sensibility, which is invaluable when it comes to this game.”
While playing at Columbia and USC, Miller said he picked up a trove of intangibles that have made him more successful on the field.
“Our playbook at Columbia was very intricate, especially for a small school,” Miller explained. “I had to get used to not making mental errors and also played on special teams, so I have that experience, too.
“When I got to USC, I was playing in front of 90K people and that didn’t bother me,” he added. “Playing in the SEC against guys who were much bigger, along with everything I achieved at Columbia, definitely prepared me for this stage.”
Throughout the 2023 season and over the past few months, Miller has trained at USC. Maintaining what he called a “practice mindset,” Miller does sprinting and weight room workouts each morning before putting on pads and a helmet for football-oriented practice each afternoon.
Between now and the NFL Draft, which will be held in Detroit beginning April 27, Miller has a busy schedule to fine-tune his draft stock.
He’s set to play in the College Gridiron Showcase, an invite-only all-star game in Fort Worth, Texas. The three-day event, which begins Friday, will allow him to interview with scouts from all 32 NFL organizations.
Miller will also get to work out in one-on-one drills, participate in player meetings and complete a cognitive test. Currently, he’s on the waitlist for the Hula Bowl, another postseason showcase game.
For the next two months, Miller will relocate to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and continue his training for the NFL Scouting Combine in late February and early March.
Miller will train with XPE Sports, which has trained over 30 first-round picks, including current NFL players Joey Bosa, Marquise Brown and CeeDee Lamb.
“I really want to run a 4.2 in the 40-yard dash, and in some test runs I’ve been in the low 4.3s,” Miller said. “The biggest thing I want to do is sharpen my skills and be ready for the next level.
“I’m focused on making sure everything is sharp with no wasted movement,” he added. “Football is a game of inches and not wasting my movements can result in a gain of six yards instead of a loss of two yards.”
Of the upcoming crucial months, Miller shared he wasn’t nervous about the high-pressure stakes. The road thus far has been paved by his excitement and support system.
“I’m excited about this journey,” Miller said. “I’ve matured more this past year than any other time in my entire life and I have coaches and teammates to thank. It was an amazing year (at USC) even though I wasn’t on the field, and I always felt part of the team.”
When asked what he thinks his best attributes are to helping an NFL team, aside from speed and toughness, Miller pointed to his versatility, health and personality.
“There is nothing that I can’t do,” Miller said. “I can be put anywhere on the field on offense and special teams and be effective. I’m a running back with low miles who has never been injured and I think that benefits me.
“And I’m charismatic and treat others with respect. That’s something I think is important in an NFL locker room.”
Last month, Miller signed with Shark Sports Management, a full-service athlete representation firm based in Denver. Working with Jack and Tom Mills, Miller joined an agency which represents NFL players like Michael Gallup, Baker Mayfield and Drew Sample.
A major step in making his NFL dreams a reality, Miller said “it means everything” to be represented by two long-time agents.
“Shark Sports Management represents a lot of seasoned athletes and I believe Jack and Tom Mills will help do what’s best for me,” Miller said. “And they actively believe in me.
“They have a lot of connections with NFL GMs, coaches and scouts. They’ve built prior relationships and I believe they can find a team that best fits me and where I will fill a need.”
Of being in contact with NFL organizations, Miller said “a couple of teams have reached out consistently.”
“I just want to play ball. I’m in this to play the game I love,” Miller explained. “Coming home and seeing the young guys aspiring to do what I’m trying to do, it’s bigger than me.
“I want to prove that anyone can achieve whatever they want, even from a small town like this,” he closed. “I want to do my best to get better and the ultimate goal is to become a seasoned NFL player, which will happen.”
