Miles, DGB bomb their way to co-MVP honors
SAN ANTONIO - Perhaps Cyler Miles was playing a little game. Yeah, that must have been it.
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After the first sack made it second-and-18, the West quarterback took another - one for 15 yards - to make it third-and-33.
At that point, his offensive line must have caught on, too. It produced a false start, making it third-and-38 from the West's own 21.
Third-and-38.
Worried? Miles was never worried during Saturday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl. That's what happens when you can look out to your left and see your roommate, Dorial Green-Beckham - the No. 1 prospect in the Rivals100.
On the next snap, Green-Beckham showed why, hauling in a bowl-record 79-yard touchdown pass that gave the West a two-touchdown lead in what would become a 24-12 victory.
"It's a great feeling to have him out there," Miles of Denver (Colo.) Mullen said. "He's 6-6 and he's got a lot of range, but more than that he can adjust to anything. You can't really miss him; he can adjust so well to the ball."
He did on the bomb.
Both Green-Beckham and the East's Travis Blanks went up for it, but Green-Beckham came down with it on a circus catch at the 35. He then raced into the end zone without issue.
The play helped Miles and Green-Beckham share game MVP honors.
As is his way, Green-Beckham deflected the praise.
"Awards are nice and it's always great to get records, but I was just so happy to get out here and compete," he said.
Green-Beckham has been the No. 1 recruit all season. But the lesser quality of competition he faced in high school made some wonder just how legit he was. He answered those questions this week.
The only thing he didn't answer was where he is going to school.
He's got a final five - Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Alabama. But they aren't in any order, and he's not sure when or where he'll take visits.
He did say, however, that he'll announce on National Signing Day on Feb. 1.
"I'm just going to sit back and figure out what the best school is for me," he said afterward - and hundreds of times during the week.
But don't be confused. Green-Beckham does have opinions. And he's not afraid to voice them.
That's what led to his record hook-up with Miles.
"Coach pulled me aside and asked me how they were covering me," he said. "I told them they were coming up on me on third downs, and I thought I could get by them. That's what I did."
Miles, headed to Washington, took it from there.
"It was an all go route for DGB," he said. "We were in trips, and I saw that he had man coverage so I just stepped up into the pocket and let it go - let him go get it. I knew he would."
The two connected twice on the day for 88 yards.
The play was just part of a big day for Miles. He was 7-for-8 for 155 yards and the TD. He also ran five times for 10 yards and the game's first score, a 4-yard run.
"We had great practices," he said. "We were confident we could move the ball."
Even on third-and-38.
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