Behind the Facemask: Lamar Miller

June 21, 2011

CORAL GABLES, Fla.–They are stories of perseverance. Stories about growing up, becoming men and being a part of a family. One-by-one, we hear from them. These are the Miami Hurricanes…

Lamar Miller | Running Back | Sophomore | Miami, Fla.

I like to dance a lot of time, just to have fun. My favorite artists are Lil’ Wayne and Rick Ross.

I like to cook for my mom when she’s tired. It depends on what I buy, but I like doing steak and shrimp. I love spaghetti, lasagna, and all Italian food. I don’t know how to make it, but my mom does.
       
I like to play video games too. NCAA and the NBA 2K’s are the ones I play most of the time.

I just got a Twitter, but I like Twitter better than Facebook. Half of the people on Facebook you don’t even really know.

I have a sister; she’s three years older than me. She’s 23.

I’ve got three best friends that I grew up with that I call brothers. Herman, Reggie and Jalani.

I like to have fun, but I love to compete. Mike [James] and I compete for everything.

When I first got here, waking up early for workouts and stuff, I wasn’t used to it. It was tough, but A.J, Mike and I used to help each other get up.

When I first started playing football, I played nose guard. I changed my position after a game when I picked up a fumble and ran past everybody for a touchdown.

I started playing football when I was eight years old. I was too big to play with my age group, so I always played with kids three years older than me.

I played a lot of sports growing up. I played baseball, basketball, and ran track. I even played volleyball for my middle school.

I’ve got seven tattoos. A few are my mom’s name, my grandmother’s name after she passed away, and “Fantastic Four” for my friends from home. I have my initials too. I got them all in high school.

I love Reggie Bush and Clinton Portis. I also watch a lot of film on Frank Gore, but Bush and Portis are my favorites.

When I was growing up, I used to always like Miami. My mom and dad always loved Florida, so I rooted for both teams. When Miami would play Florida, I would root for the Canes though. My mom’s from Gainesville, but now that I’m down here, she roots for us.

I like competition, because it makes me better and the people around me better. Competing makes it fun, going out there everyday and having fun while you’re doing it.

I used to be afraid of airplanes, but now I’m used to them after traveling all the time. I hate dogs. I’m scared of big dogs. Whenever I would walk home growing up, dogs used to chase me up the street, and I’ve always been scared.

Coach Richardson has taught me a lot of things I never knew before, on and off the field. Watching film, blocking schemes, how to take on a defender, ball security, everything.

If I wasn’t playing football, I’d probably be playing another sport…maybe track or basketball.

They call me “Miller Time,” that’s my nickname. But my mom, dad and my family always call me “Boo.” They always have.

It’s good playing with all of the local Miami guys, because when it’s time to work, everyone competes. We have fun, but everybody competes. Playing against them in high school was tough, especially the Northwestern kids. They always used to knock us out of the playoffs. It makes all of us better, playing against each other.

I wasn’t friends with any of them really, but I knew them from playing against them. I met Marcus Forston when I was in 11th grade when he had committed to Miami and he talked to me about schools and where I was looking and stuff like that.

Some of my personal goals are over 150 all-purpose yards per game and to score two touchdowns per game. I want to win every game, win the ACC Coastal Division, and get to the National Championship.

I’m superstitious sometimes now. If I wore something the week before and had a good game, I’ll wear the same thing. If I had a bad game, I try to change it up and not do the same things I did the week before.

The kick-off return at Ohio State was the highlight of my career so far. It was only the second college game I had ever played in. I was having flashbacks to when I played Northwestern and I told my friends I was going to take a kick back this season. When they kicked it, I made a couple guys miss and ended up scoring.

I try to score every time I touch the ball. When I run the ball, I have to be patient and read the blockers and defensive scheme. On kick returns, you have to hit it and make guys miss.

Make sure to check in for a new Behind the Facemask profile each and everyday in preparation for the Hurricane football season opener. For a review of all past profiles, check out Behind the Facemask Central.