Michigan's Harbaugh Should Consider QB Braxton Miller [BLOG]
By Tom Millikan
The Ohio State University is a National Champion again. Urban Meyer is king and the rest of the country is taking notice. The Buckeyes and the Big Ten were left for dead on September 6. Yet, just over four months later they're on top of the college football world.
Things change and they change fast in college football. The world of building programs through conventional and conservative applications no longer pacifies fan bases. It's win, and win now!
Ohio State won with a third string quarterback in Cardale Jones that is now rumored to be considering the NFL Draft. How crazy is that? JT Barrett who started most of the season should recover in time for 2015. That leaves preseason Heisman candidate Braxton Miller on the outside looking in.
Miller has already earned his degree from Ohio State, allowing him to transfer to any school and play next year. He doesn't have to sit out much like Russell Wilson when he transferred to Wisconsin. Wilson went on to lead the Badgers to the Rose Bowl where they lost by a touchdown to Oregon.
Reports suggest Miller is considering transferring. Schools linked to Miller include Oregon, Florida State and Duke. All three schools are in need of a starting quarterback next season if Marcus Mariotta announces he is going to the NFL. Miller would be a stopgap one-year-fill-in for each school.
There's another school out there that might need a stopgap QB and that is the University of Michigan. First year coach Jim Harbaugh should consider bringing Miller to Ann Arbor if he feels he doesn't have a true starting quarterback on the roster. After all, it's win, and win now, right?
Perhaps Miller doesn't fit Michigan's system. Perhaps Harbaugh has confidence in Shane Morris, Alex Malzone, or a recruit that remains unknown. Perhaps Harbaugh wants his guy from day one and doesn't want a one-year fix. Who knows?
I have supreme confidence in whatever Harbaugh decides no matter what decision he makes. But he should consider all options and that includes considering Braxton Miller.
If pursued by the Wolverines, you'd have to think Miller would think about it. He would have a chance to face his former team in his last college football regular season game. Imagine the hype and storylines this would create between Michigan and that team down south.
Miller might not be an option and this might all just be a pipe dream. But sometimes you've got to think outside the box if you want to win, and win now. Just ask Urban Meyer.
