DT Miller takes over West scrimmage
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – No player has played better on the West squad over the last three days than Killeen (Texas) Shoemaker defensive tackle Roy Miller.
What stands out about Miller is he consistently brings a high level of intensity on the field each day. During Wednesday's full-padded workout, Miller literally took over the West squad's 18-play scrimmage.
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If the scrimmage were a live game situation, Miller would've had four or five quarterback sacks.
"He's (Miller) been a force since the first practice," Barnes said.
"He's just a very intense kid and he had a great day and he's going to be a great player for somebody in college. He was a dominating player and we enjoyed watching him today."
Miller described his high level of play over the last three days due to the overall way he carries himself on the field.
"I don't want to say it like this, but I'm crazy," Miller said jokingly.
"I constantly think about making big plays and getting to the quarterback."
WHITE WON'T PLAY ON SATURDAY
The only player that has been officially ruled out on the West squad for Saturday's all-star game is Denver Mullen center and Oklahoma commit Jesse White.
The 6-foot, 295-pound White injured his ankle on the first day of practice. The reports coming out of the team hotel in San Antonio are White and his dad have actually headed back home to Colorado.
"Jesse hurt his ankle the first day and he's going to be a no go for the game," Barnes said. "I do know that. He's not part of our plans and that's a shame.
"He's a great kid and we enjoyed him the first day, but he had a reoccurring ankle injury that's been reoccurring all year and he hurt it the first day and just felt he couldn't go."
With White's departure that leaves the West squad in somewhat of a bind on the offensive line. However, Barnes said he feel confident that he has enough healthy bodies to make it work for Saturday.
"We have six full speed players and they're all ready to go," Barnes said. "We have an extra center (Craig Roark), because one of the guards can play center, so that's a critical spot because you want to have an extra center. All the rest of them know the other spots so I don't think there's a problem there.
"And hey, this is a game for kids, so they should be happy. Many of them won't have to come out of the game all."
POWE HELD OUT OF PRACTICE AGAIN
For the second day in a row, Rivals.com five-star defensive tackle Jerrell Powe did not practice.
Powe actually took part in Wednesday's warm-up period, but he was eventually forced to leave because of a sore throat that was giving him trouble breathing.
"He was kind of sick today," Barnes said. "He had an illness and I don't know if it was the flu or what. I was told this morning he was sick and they were going to leave him home in bed.
"We're still ok on the defensive line, we've got six players to play four positions and those kids have all been playing great."
Powe said on Wednesday that he wants people to understand that it hurts him deeply that he hasn't been able to practice.
"People have been saying that I haven't been out at practice because I'm lazy," Powe said. "But that's not true. I had a 103 fever and I have very sick ever since I got here."
RUNNING BACKS HAVE SEEN LIMITED ACTION
The one position that hasn't received a lot of pub in the West camp this week is running back. One might wonder why that is, considering the fact the West squad does feature Jonathan Stewart and Marlon Lucky, the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked running backs in the country.
Fact of the matter is the playbook has not been built around the running backs much this week, and both Stewart and Lucky have received very limited carries.
However, there was one play why Stewart did show he is the No. 1 ranked running back in the country on Wednesday. Stewart took a simple sweep play to the left side and left the entire West defense in the dust during Wednesday's scrimmage.
HORD MAKES CATCH OF THE DAY
The catch of the day on Wednesday no doubt came from Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst wide receiver D.J. Hord.
The 6-foot-2 Hord jumped over Korey Magnum in tight coverage to haul in the pass.
GRANGER DOES A NICE CARTWHEEL
Maybe the most memorable moment that came out of Wednesday's practice was when 6-foot-3, 326 pound DeMarcus Granger did a cartwheel after he took out offensive lineman Craig Roark during a one-on-one drill on Wednesday.