Ohio State Football: What Braxton Miller Must Do to Win Starting Job

When Braxton Miller announced his move from quarterback to wide receiver, he had a clear vision of bringing his electric playmaking ability to the perimeter. As a former Heisman Trophy candidate and two-time Big Ten MVP, he certainly has the confidence and the history to make that claim.

"I’m going to have fun with that and still score a lot of touchdowns and help the team out and be dominant at that," Miller said of his transition, according to Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated. He later added, “It’s going to be electric. We had a great season last year, but we didn’t see anyone do off-the-wall type stuff. I’m sure guys miss seeing an explosive, 60-yard shake-and-bake run every once in a while."

But Miller was making a leap. While he proved himself as one college football's best big-play threats in his three years at quarterback, he hadn't taken a single rep as a wide receiver at the collegiate or high school level. And the Buckeyes are loaded at wideout—particularly at the H-back position he's moving to—so he had a lot to prove during fall camp. 

That was a sentiment head coach Urban Meyer echoed when Miller announced the move. 

"We won't know enough until practice starts how we can use him and what he can do," Meyer said of Miller, according to Doug Lesmerises of the Plain Dealer. "I just don't know. He's a great athlete, but he's never caught a pass for us. So we'll know more and we have plenty of time when practice starts."

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

With fall camp in the books and preparations for Virginia Tech underway, Meyer has a much better feel for Miller's ability to not only play on the perimeter but also to start.

"My plan is to try and get him ready to do that," Meyer said when asked if Miller was the No. 1 H-back. "He's getting close."

So what's holding him back?

For starters, Miller is adjusting to a new life as a wideout. Instead of steadily guiding the offense behind center, he's sprinting and cutting down the field and then hurrying back to the line of scrimmage before the next snap. That's a lot of running, and it's something he's adjusting to.

“As a quarterback, Braxton's life has not been spent running, running, running,” Meyer said Saturday, according to James Grega of Scout. “Wide receivers basically put on track shoes and go for two hours. Next week is a big week for Braxton. He had a tight hamstring and we held him out today, but he should be ready to go on Monday."

The other thing holding Miller back? How about Ohio State's deep stable of H-backs. 

The Buckeyes have a trio of outstanding options at the position with Dontre Wilson, Jalin Marshall and converted running back Curtis Samuel. But two of those players—Wilson and Marshall—have been suspended for the season-opening clash with Virginia Tech, giving Miller the perfect opportunity to showcase what he can do on a national stage against a stout defense. 

But as Meyer said Saturday, the coming week will be a big one for Miller. He's proven to his coaches and teammates that he's a viable threat in the slot, and of course, the thought of Ohio State running the option with him at tailback is tantalizing. 

Now, he needs to prove that his body is ready to handle the workload—or rather, the running load—that comes with playing receiver. 

Because if he can, maybe he'll provide those "60-yard shake-and-bake" plays to Ohio State's offense on a weekly basis this fall.

David Regimbal is the Ohio State football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.