Unlike the performances of USC safety Taylor Mays, Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell, South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and all the other workout demons of this past NFL Scouting Combine, 49ers fullback Brit Miller did not post staggering numbers in Indianapolis.
He didn’t post any numbers at all.
Miller was not invited to the biggest annual job fair for potential NFL players last season. Not even after a stellar four-year career at the University of Illinois where he played in 48 games, made 283 tackles (33 for loss) and was named first-team All-Big Ten by the media and second-team by the coaches as a senior.
But the snub didn’t stop him from crashing the party anyway; he made it to the league as an undrafted free agent and at a different position on top of all that.
“Football has never been about abs and how you look, it’s about how you play,” said the college linebacker turned 49ers fullback (who ran a 4.62 and put up 24 bench reps of 225-lbs at his pro day in Champaign for those needing workout numbers for validation).” It’s about playing tough. That’s what I like about football. It’s one of those things where if you’re willing to play harder than anyone else, then you can play the game.”
As a 6-foot-0, 243-pound college linebacker, Miller went undrafted in April, but was signed by the Carolina Panthers for rookie minicamp. However, his days as an NFL linebacker were short-lived. Miller was released by Carolina and then picked up by the 49ers in early July. That’s when the position change took place.
From that point on, Miller worked as hard as anyone else on the 49ers practice field on the offensive side of the ball during his stint on the practice squad to start the 2009 season. That’s where his effort caught the eyes of the coaching staff. They added Miller to the 53-man roster for the final five games of the season starting against the Seattle Seahawks. He made two tackles playing on special teams in his NFL debut and finished the year with six tackles, four of which were solo.
His contributions didn’t go unnoticed.
After his rookie campaign, Miller was named the team’s Thomas Herrion Memorial Award winner. The honor is presented to a rookie or first-year player who best represents the dream of Herrion, taking advantage of every opportunity and turning it into a positive situation to make their dream become a reality.
Miller took advantage of injuries to members of the 49ers special teams units and filled in on punt and kickoff cover teams.
“I had a little bit of luck, and then opportunity showed its face and I was able to capitalize,” Miller explained of what enabled him to succeed as an undrafted rookie. “I know I can play football at this level now.”
With one year under his belt, Miller is confident he will continue to grow in his first full offseason practicing at the fullback position.
“Now I can just concentrate on being the best fullback and player in the NFL that I can be. I think that takes a lot off my mind as far as really being able to narrow it down and get better.”
Miller was caught up to speed this season with the help of a great support staff. That being the duo of running backs coach Tom Rathman and 49ers starting fullback Moran Norris. Miller lucked out in learning from Rathman, a two-time Super Bowl champion fullback with the 49ers, and Norris, a nine-year pro, who routinely opens holes for Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore.
“I take that as part of the luck I ran into out here. I don’t know if I would have been able to play fullback without them,” Miller said. “I’ve learned a lot from them and they’ve made me better.”
Playing behind Norris in particular has shown Miller first-hand what it takes to be a successful player at the fullback position in the NFL.
“Moran showed me how to be a pro. Playing fullback is a physical position and he’s never shied away from anything. He’s been in the league for nine years and that’s the kind of career I want. To see that, it’s a lot easier to mimic than it is to create.
“Seeing him do that, shows that it can be done. Learning from him has been one of those things that’s really helped me as a football player and make that transition to fullback.”
Although Miller didn’t touch the ball on offense in the regular season, his first two touches in a 49ers uniform were quite successful.
They both went for touchdowns.
Miller caught touchdown passes of 3 and 47 yards in the team’s preseason opener against the Denver Broncos. The instant success was even more gratifying to the college linebacker – it was validation that his career-change would be for the best.
“I didn’t even expect to be in on those points in the game,” Miller said. “But I caught the ball, showed that I could be an athlete and make a play. That’s one of the things that kept me here. I’m thankful for sure.”
Making the best of his opportunities and overcoming challenges is what allowed Miller to have the success he did in 2009.
The non-invite to the Combine was a challenge and he overcame that. Being on the practice squad was a challenge and he made it on the team. The next challenge for Miller is reclaiming his spot on the 49ers in what figures to be a competitive offseason that will ultimately shape the depth at each position on the final roster and practice squad.
“I like the challenge of proving that I can be an athlete. And the fact that I can play linebacker better than I can fullback makes me a commodity, because the more you can do the better,” he said.
At this stage of the offseason, Miller is relying on his experiences from college, but not from the position he played.
“I know what it’s like to go through an offseason hungry. We think we should have been in the playoffs. So it’s about what are we going to do to be there next year to not have these feelings of frustration. Knowing that we have the talent, the ability and the type of guys we do, we’ll come back and be ready to go.”
And if all goes well, the 49ers will follow Miller’s lead and take advantage of all their opportunities in the coming season.
