Why four-year starter Landon Miller rarely comes off the field for Smyrna football now
SMYRNA - Smyrna senior Landon Miller rarely comes off the field these days, and he's loving every minute of it.
Already a four-year starter at quarterback and punter for the Bulldogs, Miller is now starting for the Bulldogs at free safety, something that he's been itching to do for a few years.
"We want to have the best athletes on the field at all times," said Miller, who rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns while playing the majority of the contest on the defensive side as well in a 35-14 win over rival Stewarts Creek on Friday at SRM Field.
"Even with a lot of us playing both ways, we're some dogs and we're going to keep fighting."
It's the first time in Miller's high school career that he's played defense, but he played linebacker throughout youth leagues and middle school before coming to Smyrna.
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"I'm faster now, so I'm able to play safety," Miller said. "I'll do whatever I can to help the team."
Against Stewarts Creek, he had five tackles and a pass break-up in the end zone.
A lack of numbers and depth has prompted the move to play the team's most versatile player both ways.
"He's a great defensive player," Smyrna coach Matt Williams said. "Coming out of middle school, he was our quarterback, so we couldn't afford to play him on defense, not that we can now. We're trying to play old-school football."
One thing that helped Miller prepare for his new role is bulking up and hitting the weight room. The now 6-foot-2, 225-pounder has put on 25-30 pounds since last season. It hasn't affected his speed, however, as shown by his big night running the ball.
"I'm just as mobile," Miller said. "Putting on weight and lifting more has a lot to do with it."
"He has worked out and killed the weight room this offseason," Williams said. "He bought into that. It's paid dividends, as far as injury prevention."
As if his big night on offense and defense wasn't impressive enough, Miller, a second-team all-area punter last season, averaged more than 40 yards on five punts.
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"Landon is extremely valuable to us," Williams said. "Tonight he played about as hard as I've seen anybody play. Hat's off to him for that. He does so much for us. He's become a leader for us.
"He did a lot of good things tonight. He would tell you he would like to have thrown it better, but he did a good job running the ball and an extremely good job punting."
With more defensive reps, Miller should get even better as the season progresses. He has already impressed his teammates.
"He's great right now," said Smyrna senior running back/linebacker Arion Carter, a Memphis commitment. "Everyone has their ways of improvement, and he does too. But he can be really great."
Carter had 15 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown in Friday's win. Javarian Otey had 19 carries for 100 yards to lead Stewarts Creek (0-1).
Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: TSSAA football: Smyrna quarterback Landon Mller now a key on defense
