WEST LAFAYETTE − As quickly as the coaching lessons spilled out, an inquisitive middle linebacker is rapidly writing them down in a notebook.
While expected in college, this is a bit of an anomaly at the high school level.
But, Purdue football walk-on turned starting inside linebacker Hudson Miller is a bit of an anomaly.
“He’d wear you out with questions,” Cathedral football coach Bill Peebles recalls.
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Miller is meticulous and driven.
Peebles called Miller “a very good high school football player” and that’s evident by his 156 tackles, including 33.5 for loss and 13.5 sacks over his junior and senior seasons while leading a defense on back-to-back state championship teams.
“He was always the linebacker I was trying to stay away from because he’s always been so big and strong,” said Purdue receiver Jaron Tibbs, a high school teammate of Miller’s.
Purdue football offers ‘a chance’
Despite Miller’s status as a high school standout in Indianapolis, most colleges turned their recruiting efforts elsewhere based on his 5-11 frame.
“I had smaller offers, D-II schools, NAIA. At the end of the day, I wanted a chance to play at a big school because I didn’t want to ask myself ‘what if,'” Miller said. “No offense to a D-II or NAIA, but everyone watches the Power Four schools and FBS schools on Saturdays. As a kid, it’s all you dream of and all you want is a chance.”
That chance came when David Elson resigned from his position as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at NAIA Marian University to become a quality control coach at Purdue prior to Miller’s senior year at Cathedral.
Elson was recruiting Miller to play at Marian. Miller was invited by Elson to Ross-Ade Stadium to watch Purdue play Minnesota in October 2021. The following spring, a walk-on opportunity was presented the following spring.
“I came for summer workouts and ended up earning a roster spot,” Miller said. “That connection with coach Elson really brought it all to life.”
New staff, new opportunity
Miller’s first season with the Boilermakers was as an anonymous practice player.
“As a walk-on, no one is going to know your name early on, but you’ve got to come in here, you’ve got to put your head down and you’ve got to work,” Miller said.
Four months after Miller arrived in West Lafayette, the coaching staff that gave him a chance to play major college football departed.
A new staff provided a clean slate. Miller made his name on special teams in 2023, Purdue’s first season with Ryan Walters in charge.
At the conclusion of the 2023 regular season, Miller ranked second nationally in assisted tackles on special teams, according to Pro Football Focus.
“That’s the great thing about football,” said Cole Brevard, Purdue’s 6-3, 333-pound senior defensive tackle. “It doesn’t really matter how tall or big you are. If you’ve got that dog in you, you can be straight.”
From special teams star to starter
Miller is not oblivious to his shortcomings.
He’s not tall. By comparison to most at this level of football, he’s not very fast.
“When you’re not the biggest, fastest or strongest out there, and a lot of times the walk-ons aren’t, you’ve got to do whatever you can to get an edge,” Miller said. “My edge, I like to think, is my preparation and my study.”
Purdue defensive coordinator Kevin Kane has a saying.
Know your opponent better than they do.
Miller took that to heart.
The trusty notebook Miller kept all that info in while playing for Cathedral still exists.
A “consummate preparation guy” Kane calls him.
“Ever since I’ve gotten here, his work ethic and preparation into how he studies, how he practices, his desire … He’s not scared to ask you to go watch film with him at any point in the day,” Kane said, resembling exactly the studious and relentless linebacker Peebles remembers at Cathedral.
Now, instead of preparing for Westfield, Center Grove, Zionsville and Chatard, Miller is logging how to succeed against Oregon, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Indiana.
The latter, a season finale against the rival Hoosiers for the Old Oaken Bucket, will be Miller’s fifth straight as a starting linebacker for the Boilermakers.
“He is one of those success stories you have of kids working their way and willing their way into becoming a Big Ten starting linebacker,” Peebles said.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How Hudson Miller went from walk-on to Purdue football starter
