Ontario’s Bodpegn Miller talks about the big plays by the defense
Ontario quarterback Bodpegn Miller talks about the defense his team played at Pleasant Friday night in the Warriors 35-14 victory in Week 7.
ONTARIO — Bodpegn Miller never had plans of leaving The Ohio State University.
Then again, he knew better than to have plans at all.
The 2025 Ontario High School graduate completed his transfer from Ohio State to the University of Washington to continue his college football career on Jan. 28. He will have four years of eligibility left after redshirting his true freshman season at Ohio State.
“I never envisioned myself transferring, but things happen,” Miller said. “Coach (Brian) Hartline leaving was part of the reason, but I really felt God had a different plan for me. A new home with new opportunities is a welcomed change for me.”
A four-star recruit out of high school, Miller chose Ohio State over Boston College, Iowa State and Northwestern among the 15 offers he gathered when he finished third in the 2024 Ohio Mr. Football voting. At 6-foot-3 and 196-pounds, Miller joins Jeff Fisch’s receiver room that also includes Kennesaw State transfer Christian Moss, sophomore Justice Williams, redshirt freshman Deji Ajose, and true freshmen Jordan Clay and Blaise LaVista.
Miller is the 12th scholarship transfer player to join UW since the portal window opened on Jan. 2. Despite Washington not being on Miller’s radar out of high school, he was won over by the coaching staff during his visit.
“They weren’t, but I got to know their receivers coach, Kevin Cummings, and he was interested in me and wanted me to come out and check out the place,” Miller said. “I didn’t really know too much about Seattle, but I know Washington has a historic program that I got to see firsthand this year.”
Miller made no catches during his high school football career, instead playing quarterback, defensive back, punter and kicker for the Warriors. He still owns several program records including single-season rushing yards (1,988), single-season passing yards (2,328), single-season total touchdowns (41), single-season completion percentage (63.8% in 2023), career rushing yards (3,610), career passing yards (6,398), career total offensive yards (10,008), career passing touchdowns (54) and career total touchdowns (101).
He cannot wait to get started.
“I really like all of the coaches and what they had to say about how they see me developing,” Miller said. “I felt like I was at home. They have experience with big receivers and getting them to the league and I just thought, ‘why can’t that be me?’
“Seattle is a brand new place for me. There is water everywhere and it is such a neat city. I am excited.”
Miller reportedly took visits to Northwestern, Stanford and Old Dominion according to ESPN’s Max Olson and was approached by several schools who saw him more as a defensive back, but Miller is committed to wide receiver after studying under one of the best receivers coaches in the country in Hartline, who left to take the head coaching gig at South Florida.
“I had a couple of schools ask if I was willing to play DB, but I am all in on being a receiver,” Miller said. “I spent a year learning everything about the position and I didn’t want to start all over.
“I learned so much from my year at Ohio State. The importance of foot work and how to always improve that aspect. I learned what it takes to be great at this level and was around some amazing coaches. I was around some of the best defensive players and that just forces you to learn how to be great. I had to think outside of the box, grow and get out of my comfort zone.”
740-244-9934
X: @JakeFurr11
