By Jeffrey Cohen | Sports Editor
Coming out of Silsbee as a four-star recruit, junior wide receiver Dre’lon Miller looked to be a part of one of the top stories in college football.
Colorado, in one offseason, turned from a bottom dweller in the Pac-12 to an emerging force behind the additions of larger-than-life head coach Deion Sanders, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter.
While Miller joined the Buffs after a 4-8 campaign in 2023, there was something encouraging about the direction the program was moving in.
He added depth to a strong receiving core behind Heisman-winning Hunter, catching 32 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns in 2024. He followed that up with 158 receiving yards and 146 on the ground.
After two years under “Coach Prime,” Miller entered the transfer portal and decided to go closer to home at Baylor. He now uses his experience under Sanders as a measuring stick for how head coach Dave Aranda coaches.
“Playing with Coach Prime was amazing,” Miller said. “Speaking on both of the head coaches, they’re great mentors, great fathers, great coaches, and I feel like you can learn a lot from both of them.”
Both coaches seem like opposites on the outside. Aranda is more reserved and known for his stoic appearance on the sideline. Sanders carries the nickname “Prime Time,” the moniker that represented his unapologetic personality throughout his career.
They still hold to similar coaching styles despite their differing expressions.
“It’s more of the same with how coaches coach,” Miller said. “They get on you, they’re hard, but at the end of the day, they want what’s best for you.”
Waco didn’t feel too different from Boulder, Colorado, when Miller first set foot on campus, but once the heat turned up in the spring and summer, he had to adapt throughout the offseason.
“When I first got here in January, it was freezing cold,” Miller said. “Everybody was like, ‘You just brought the snow with you.’ But now it’s like the complete opposite, and that’s probably a big difference between here and Boulder.”
Once the heat turned up as it turned to spring and summer, Waco started to feel more like home.
“It’s a lot like my hometown,” Miller said. “There’s not much to do in Waco, but at the end of the day, it’s a good thing. But I love it so far.”
Miller is taking one of his favorite spots back to Texas along with his talents on the field. He recently inked an NIL partnership with Casey’s General Stores. The chain is moving into Texas after having most of its locations around the Midwest and is utilizing players like Miller to support the expansion.
“It’s something I’ve been hooked on for a while,” Miller said. “[I’m helping] bring it to Texas.”
Miller is heading into a rematch against his former team in Week 4. While he is no longer wearing the same colors as his former teammates, it’s nothing but love for the Buffs.
“That’s where I started my college journey,” Miller said. “It’ll be a great week and take a lot of pictures … I still root for them … At the end of the day, I have love for them.”
After all the pageantry and photos being taken, Miller is ready to show out in front of his old coach and team.
“He probably wants us to do a little bit better against his former team,” fifth-year wide receiver Jayden McGowan said. “He’s coming with the same intensity he’s done all season.”
While Miller has not lit up the stat sheet since the season started, he has made the most of his limited opportunities. His lone catch of the season was a 22-yard touchdown in Baylor’s rout of Prairie View A&M.
“It was crazy because I was on the sideline and I’m like, ‘As soon as I catch it, I’m going to score,'” Miller said. “It happened just like that.”
The lack of consistency at quarterback has made it more difficult for Miller to find his rhythm throughout game week. After junior quarterback DJ Lagway injured his ankle in Week 1 against Auburn, the status of who will be under center for the Bears seemed unclear until junior Nate Bennett was named the starter a few days before the game against Prairie View and Louisiana Tech.
“It’s something that you don’t wish for,” Miller said. “Whoever’s the quarterback back there, I have 100% faith in them, and I know they’ll get the job done.”
Baylor will face off against Colorado at 11 a.m. Saturday at McLane Stadium.
