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Florida football: Ventrell Miller is putting the Gators defense on his back

By Benjamin Henderson

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 08: Nathaniel Peat #8 of the Missouri Tigers runs the ball during the second quarter of a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 08, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 08: Nathaniel Peat #8 of the Missouri Tigers runs the ball during the second quarter of a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 08, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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It has been pretty well accepted by Florida football fans that if Anthony Richardson goes down with a long-term injury, the prospects for the Gators aren’t great on offense. Beyond Richardson, Florida should be able to survive an injury to another player on offense.

Halfway through the 2022 season for Florida football, it is clear that on the defensive side, Florida should be able to survive an injury to anyone except for one.

Ventrell Miller is the one player the Gators can not afford to lose.

Florida football: I’ve got a broken leg, but I put the team on my back

Miller was not highly thought of coming out of high school. He was a three-star prospect ranked outside the top 500 overall prospects. After getting hurt a missing a majority of last season, Miller is taking advantage of a sixth season and looks like a five-star prospect holding everything together for Florida football.

It’s a coincidence that after Miller broke his foot against Kentucky and had to sit out against USF, the Bulls ran all over Florida’s defense. With Miller back in, having to take an injection to numb the pain, Florida’s defense has been able to lock down running backs the last three games.

Against Tennessee, Florida held the Volunteers’ running backs to under four yards a carry. Against Eastern Washington, Miller kept the Eagle’s attempts at using heavy sets in check. And against Missouri, Miller looked like an absolute star.

With the Tigers unable to throw vertically, they took to running right at Miller and were mostly shut down all day. Miller finished the day with ten solo tackles.

And while Jaydon Hill was the headliner with two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, it was Miller chipping the recover on both plays that threw the timing off to help put Hill in a position of success.

People are taking notice nationally. PFF College has had Miller as one of its top-rated linebackers all season and have said the only reason he hasn’t flown up NFL draft boards is because his “combine measurables” aren’t going to be as appealing as some others.

https://twitter.com/pff_college/status/1578386412147298304?s=46&t=5LZRD9T9uI49VdlmoAKWIQ

For Florida football fans, the combine numbers don’t matter. Ventrell Miller is damn good football player.

And you know it.

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