Mason Miller had to try and make the transition from junior high star to impact varsity two-way player as a Greenland sophomore last fall.
This year, he's tasked with being the elder statesmen of a young receiving corps and potentially being a key defensive player for the Pirates.
Profile
Mason Miller
School: Greenland
Class: Junior
Position: Receiver
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
Notable: Started all 11 games at receiver as a sophomore last year. … Greenland’s lone experienced returning receiver. … Will also likely play a key role at outside linebacker.
While he isn't the most vocal player on the team, the 5-foot-10, 165-pound junior has spent the spring and summer making an effort to teach younger receivers, whether it's plays and routes or how to line up and go through a drill full speed.
"I just try to go out there and lead by example," Miller said. "I think if people see you doing it right, they're going to want to follow and do it right, too."
Miller hopes to improve on a sophomore season in which he started every game at receiver and finished with close to 20 catches. He is the Pirates' lone returning experienced receiver, a title that has required him to take on a leadership role in an underclassman-heavy team.
He's embraced the challenge.
"We have a lot of good freshmen coming up this year as sophomores, so they've been pushing me," Miller said.
Miller figures to play a key role on offense, but Greenland will also need him to be a presence on defense, most likely at outside linebacker. It's a role he wasn't quite ready for as a sophomore.
"That's probably where we put too much pressure on him last year was playing defense," Greenland coach Lee Larkan said. "But I think he's going to be a big player for us on defense."
Miller spent the offseason improving physically, raising his bench press and squat maxes considerably. The hard work should allow him to better handle playing a big role on both sides of the ball.
"I've gotten a lot stronger," Miller said. "I've been running, trying to get faster and improve my game."
The Pirates coaching staff is counting on the valuable experience Miller gained as a sophomore starter to pay dividends this season. Especially after he finished the season strong down the stretch, playing his best in the final few weeks of the year.
"He struggled a little bit last year because it's a big change to be the best in junior high, then you're moved up to high school and you're 15 years old playing against 18-year-olds," Larkan said. "But he got better and toward the end of the year was playing pretty good. And we're expecting a lot of good things from him this year.
"He's quiet, but he works hard. He's smart and really good character. If you're smart, work hard and have good character, good things are going to happen for you."
Who throws to Miller is arguably the biggest question mark facing Greenland entering the fall. Sophomore River Rogers and juniors Spencer Lyons and Cole Self are in the midst of a competition for the quarterback job to replace graduated Hunter Farrar.
"It's been different because last year we just had one quarterback, and I was used to that," Miller said.
Miller will provide whoever wins the job with an experienced, talented target at receiver.
Sports on 07/29/2014