Oregon Football: Braxton Miller Is No Mariota, but He Would Be an Awesome Duck

Coming into the 2014 season, Braxton Miller was a legitimate Heisman contender and had hopes of leading his Ohio State Buckeyes to the inaugural College Football Playoff. Unfortunately for him, he suffered a season-ending injury to his throwing shoulder in fall practice just days prior to the start of the season.

He said from the beginning he was going to come back to college for his final season of eligibility. However, J.T Barrett has filled in admirably at quarterback and has the offense running as good, if not better, than last year’s 12-2 squad.

This leaves Urban Meyer with a tough decision and there is an abundance of uncertainty if Miller would even be the starter should he return to Columbus as a fifth-year senior.

Not surprisingly, there has been speculation about where Miller might end up. The one that is most intriguing to me is Oregon, but would Braxton Miller be a good fit in Oregon?

Assuming Marcus Mariota forgoes his senior season of college and declares for the NFL draft, it seems like it would be prudent for Miller to transfer to Oregon for his final collegiate season.

He would be able to do it without having to sit out a season, as it is an NCAA rule that states graduate students can transfer to another school and play immediately. Several players, most notably Russell Wilson, have taken advantage of this rule.

Oregon and Ohio State don’t run the same type of offense, but the quarterback characteristics are very similar. The perfect quarterback in both offenses is an athletic dual-threat guy, someone who can eat up yards effectively as a runner and passer.

Miller thrived in the Buckeyes’ spread option attack for two years, but it was never because of his throwing. He threw the ball decently last year, but he never once topped the 300-yard plateau in a game and completed only 63.5 percent of his passes. He was mostly a runner, rushing for more than 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His stellar running ability is what would make him an instant hit in Eugene. Sure, the coaching staff would have to revise the playbook a bit to fit Miller’s strengths, but it would undoubtedly be willing to do it.

Miller is a rare jewel and a player any team in the country would be lucky to have. Oregon is no exception. Even on a roster as skilled as that, Miller would be a welcome addition.

NFL Analyst Bucky Brooks is one of the many scouts drooling over Miller’s talent. Here is what he said in a past column about Miller.

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As a runner, Miller posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, exhibiting a powerful running style that made him difficult to bring down on the perimeter. Miller was unquestionably the most explosive weapon on the field whenever he stepped between the lines; his ability to break off big runs as the triggerman in the Buckeyes' spread offense made the unit nearly impossible to slow down despite opponents' best efforts.

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That quote could not be truer. Except for the Michigan State game, Miller was unstoppable in 2013. If he were to transfer to Oregon, he would be an instant sensation.

However, this whole situation hinges on Mariota leaving early for the NFL. If he decides to return for his senior year, Miller would obviously not come to Oregon because Mariota is arguably the best quarterback in the country as well as an Oregon legend.

In a recent article by Mike Huguenin of NFL.com, he listed 10 schools as potential landing spots for Miller if he wants to play quarterback and decides to transfer. Oregon was on that list, and there were some other very interesting possibilities including Auburn, UCLA, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

This is what Huguenin said about Oregon:

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Marcus Mariota could return for his senior season. But if he doesn't, having Miller as a ready-made replacement likely would make coach Mark Helfrich and offensive coordinator Scott Frost giddy. Mariota is more advanced as a passer than Miller, but Miller is a more physical runner, and adding him to the stable of backs already on Oregon's campus -- wow.

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From Miller’s perspective, he cannot make a truly bad decision. He would be a solid fit with any school that has an offensive system revolving around a dual-threat quarterback.

Most professional scouts, including Brooks, don’t see Miller as an NFL quarterback, but more as a running back or wide receiver. If Miller decides to switch positions and remain at Ohio State, the Buckeye offense would be absolutely lethal.

Just imagine Barrett and Miller in the same backfield, executing the read option to perfection. They would be nearly impossible to stop, and the thought of such a dynamic duo would make any defensive coordinator cringe.

But if he wants to transfer, Oregon would be the best fit. Miller would instantly jump into a situation where he could easily be successful. He would have a stable of ultra-athletic running backs and wide receivers to work with as well as a team with the necessary talent to contend for a national championship.

For the Ducks, they don’t have a quarterback with Miller’s ability on the roster for next year. He would be the perfect player to bridge the gap between Mariota and Travis Waller, one of the most highly touted dual-threat quarterbacks in the class of 2015 according to 247Sports.

Whether there have been discussions between Miller and the Oregon coaching staff is irrelevant at this point. He would be an ideal fit for the Ducks, and the Oregon offense would be incredibly potent with Miller behind center.