 "Photo: Johnny Green")
At 6-feet, 3-inches tall and 240 pounds, junior "jack" Von Miller has the look of a safety, but his speed and athletic ability have given him nicknames such as "freak" and "the matrix."
"I just try to go out there and compete, and the name just comes along," Miller said. "I didn't ask to be called that. I just try to play and show everybody that I'm here to get it."
Miller's versatility even confuses the occasional inquirer.
"When some people ask me what position I play, they say safety or receiver," Miller said. "I like to think personally that I'm like a running back but I never got a chance to do all that."
In 2008, Miller played defensive end, recording 44 tackles, but this year he moved to the "jack" position, a roaming player with an option to play as a hybrid defensive end and linebacker.
"Von can make his body do so many different things. He's a unique guy," said Defensive Coordinator Joe Kines. "We moved Von to the 'jack' position during the spring and he's been in several places on the field and is doing a good job with that. That position is going to be a big part of our package."
In Miller's senior year of high school at Desoto, Texas, he was named the District 8-5A defensive most valuable player. He ran track four years of high school and that contributes to his speed on the football field.
"My sophomore year going to my junior year of high school I was No. 11 in the state," said Miller about his track career. "I'm an offensive guy at heart and a track guy at heart."
Many players consider Miller an unspoken leader of the defense.
"Everybody knows what is expected of Von," said sophomore defensive tackle Tony Jerod-Eddie, in an interview with Gabe Bock. "Von knows what's expected of him and he's going to play well. Teams are going to adjust to his strengths - his pass-rushing skills, his flexibility and versatility. We just have to follow Von. Von sets the bar high and we just have to finish it."
Jerod-Eddie is also from Desoto, along with sophomore running back Cyrus Gray and sophomore outside linebacker Garrick Williams. Jerod-Eddie has a strong bond with Miller in many ways.
"I love it. I wouldn't trade it for anything," Jerod-Eddie said. "I just love playing with Von, playing with Cyrus, and playing with Garrick behind us. Von and I were talking about it the other day watching film, seeing three DeSoto guys on the same side of the field. Von and I have that connection because we have been on the same defensive line for five or six years now. We can do certain things and get away with them because we have that feel for each other."
Miller is such a team player that he even gives advice to the offensive line after practice.
"After practice I'll tell them what they did wrong because if they start blocking me, they are definitely going to block someone else in the Big 12 and the rest of the teams we play," Miller said. "We are only as strong as our weakest link and I try to have all those guys on the same page and in unison. "
As far as Miller's opinion of his skills, he said he is a defensive end who can pass rush effectively and that was one of the reasons he was recruited by A&M.
"I can stand in there with those guys but my strength isn't really power so I have to have a counter," Miller said. "They're big and strong and I'm big and fast so I have to use my speed to get around those guys."
The Aggies' first game of the season is at home against New Mexico and Miller said he wants to have a much different outcome than 2008's narrow 28-22 win.
"We're ready as we'll ever be," Miller said. "I really want to go out there and get a lot of points on the guys, but beat them first, then get a lot of points on them and show the Twelfth Man that we have a win on the way."
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