Braxton Miller a 1st Round Talent?

The 2016 Senior Bowl showcases the best NFL prospects the collegiate game has to offer, all of which have completed their eligibility.

The Senior Bowl will be played today at 2:30PM Eastern time, however, we have had the luxury of watching the week of practice prior to the game itself. Players have stood out across the board. Carson Wentz has made a huge leap because of the poise and leadership he has shown at practice. Louisville stand-out DT Sheldon Rankins has been dominating practice, as has Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler.

One of the more surprising developments was that of Braxton Miller's. A collegiate star at the quarterback position for much of his career at the Ohio State Universiry, Miller made the transition to wide receiver his senior year due to a crowded quarterback situation. For a first time receiver, Miller provided solid production, catching 26 balls for 341 yards. Three of those catches resulted in touchdowns. He was seen as a work-in-progress, which is expected for a quarterback switching positions.

We have seen many players improve their stock dramatically, solely because of the Senior Bowl. Nick Marshall and Danny Shelton had great Senior Bowls in 2015, which improved their stock vastly. The same may be happening with Braxton Miller.

Braxton Miller has had complete control over solid corners throughout practice. He has shown legitimate over-the-top speed to blow past defenders.He possesses solid hands but his concentration and perception of the ball is what really stands out. For a receiver so new to the game, he uses well-timed leaps to catch the ball at its highest point. There is no doubting Miller's athleticism, what there is to doubt is if Miller can learn the ins and outs of the wide receiver position quickly. He still has major route running problems, and doesn't make too much of an impact in the middle of the field. Ball security may be an issue as well. Take a look at what Miller has been doing to defenders as a red-zone threat here.

What surprises me the most is that well-respected draft analysts Chad Rueter has Miller going 24th overall to Cincinnati. That came as a huge surprise as Miller was thought of primarily as a return-specialist and project at receiver. However, Rueter believes Miller has made the leap. We will see what he shows us at the game today. We may be witnessing the emergence of a star here.