All you have to do is watch game film of Winslow Township wide receiver/defensive back Cam Miller to see why the who’s who of college football programs are courting him for his services at the next level.
On both sides of the ball, Miller has been a handful for every opponent’s coordinator on the Eagles schedule.
Miller scored 15 touchdowns as a receiver plus two as a punt returner in 2023, his junior year.
On defense, he is a fierce tackler with a nose for where his opponent is headed with the ball.
GETTING RECRUITED CAN BE FUN
Miller says he has enjoyed the recruiting process…he says he is aware you only get to do this once.
“It has…it definitely has been fun,” the 5-foot-11, 175 pounder said in a recent interview. “I've been enjoying myself and enjoying the visits…just getting out to see new places.
“Football brings you a lot. Football brings you to a lot of places and I'm definitely enjoying the process. Just getting out to go to places, meeting new people. I'm just exploring.”
Many of Miller’s visits were unofficial. Miller shared that he, on his own, has visited the University of Michigan, Rutgers, Penn State, Syracuse, Kentucky and Wisconsin to name a few. “A lot of schools,” Miller said with a smile.
Miller, like many sought after players, is taking his time and has narrowed the offers down to a list of finalists. He’s got the list down to five programs:
“Michigan, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Syracuse and Rutgers,” Miller stated during our interview held at the Adrenaline Sports Performance facility in Cherry Hill, NJ.
LEARNING FROM SETBACKS
Winslow Township fielded a talented team in 2023 that went 10-3 overall. But the Eagles were up and down at times.
Winslow lost to a tough Cherokee team in the season opener that made it to the NJSIAA Group 5 semi-finals, but knocked off Delsea, who ended up winning the Group 3 State Championship.
The other regular season loss was to Washington Township.
The Minutemen went 9-3 overall and made it to the Group 5 quarterfinals, losing to eventual state champion Toms River.
Winslow Township lost to 2023 powerhouse, Mainland Regional, in the Group 4 semifinals.
So, the Eagles played against some of the best programs in New Jersey and held their own.
Miller talked about the season.
“Things happen,” Miller said. “I definitely felt like we should have won those games.
But you know things happen.”
\Miller talked about losing to Mainland Regional in the semifinals 41-7.
“That team wanted it more that day,” Miller said. “The outcome was the outcome. The guys on my team put in the work every day, so I wouldn’t say we underachieved. We went into the game not fully prepared, if that makes sense.
“Now it’s back to work, going hard and making sure those mistakes don’t happen again.
“Washington Township…miracle play, last second,” he recalled. “It was pretty hard. Our practices have to be better for things like that not to happen at the end. We lost focus…same thing with Cherokee…first game…that’s no excuse…we’ve just got to start out stronger.”
Miller says he expects the Eagles to be ready in 2024. He was asked to name some returning teammates he knows head coach Bill Belton will be leaning on.
Those players included sophomore-to-be quarterback Jalen Parker, senior signal-caller/running back Deante Ruffin, junior center Philip Hatfield, junior WR/CB Nyqir Helton, and sophomore Ausar Heard (OLB, SS, TE).
“Coming into this year, there are things we have to work on,” said Miller, who named his head coach as one of the professionals in football he admired. “We need to go in stronger and make sure we finish games.”
COLLEGE BALL IS ON HIS MIND
While Miller looks like high school’s version of DeVonta Smith and/or 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk--his favorite NFL players--he is also an outstanding defensive back.
Many scouts evaluate Miller as a Power 5 player on defense.
Miller says he is being recruited for both positions, but is leaning heavily towards playing receiver at the college level.
He was asked if his dream program recruited him as a DB, would he accept the scholarship based on the idea he was coming to the program as a defensive player?
“Let’s do it,” Miller replied without hesitation.
Miller was asked to talk about what areas Winslow Township needs to improve in order to beat teams like Mainland Regional?
“Just finishing,” Miller said. “Just finishing strong and lessening up on the mistakes. We need to try to capitalize on [opponents] mistakes. And stay positive through tough times.”
One of the attributes evaluators at the college level and beyond look at more and more each year is a player’s love of football, love of competing. Well?
“I love football,” Miller said with a smile. “I genuinely love it. I’m a competitor. I’m very competitive. I hate losing…but I always look at losses as a way to get better. Losses aren’t losses. There are always certain things you can do to turn that loss into a win. It’s just simple mistakes.”
TRANSFER PORTAL? NOT ON MILLER’S RADAR
Obviously Miller wants to play at the best program possible at the college level. But he says he realizes that it’s in his best interest to be realistic.
If there is an NFL first round draft pick, who is an underclassman at his position at a school Miller likes…he may have to move on to the next choice if he wants a better chance to play sooner than later…or maybe not. Is it a factor?
“Definitely,” Miller said. “But college comes with development. So if you do have pros in front of you…you can always learn from them. I’m not big on the transfer portal. I’m not big on the transfer portal at all. I always think [competition] is a way to become better and learn from the people that are ahead of you.
“Coming into high school, I wasn’t the guy,” Miller continued. “I learned from those guys ahead of me. They not only taught me the game, but just how to become better as a person and a football player as well.”
Miller has been impressing more and more people in the athletic and football community by just being himself. That’s off the field.
On the field, he is getting reviews only a handful of players receive.
One college observer who specializes in high school talent said…
“[Cam Miller] has verified size with ability to add more mass and strength without losing speed or elusiveness...Can be a high-level player at Top 20 program."
His longtime trainer Chad Hallett, owner of Adrenaline, has been watching Miller since grade school.
“Cam is a special talent,” Hallett said recently. “[I] had him back when he was in seventh grade. He recently just came back…to see the growth and development that he has gone through is amazing. Cam is very athletic with a skill set to match. He is definitely one of those guys you will see playing on Sundays in the near future.
Comes in the gym and is straight business…great kid on and off the field.”
Transfer portals have been the talk of college sports for the last few years. After Indiana State’s basketball team lost a tight battle in the NIT Championship, four of its five starters entered the transfer portal.
That Miller is on record stating emphatically that it’s something he has no interest in is interesting. Where did he get that perspective?
“I grew up playing (sports) with older guys,” Miller said. “I was always the youngin on the team that always wanted to get better. That mindset got broken in with me early. It’s always been a development thing for me. And when it’s that time to shine, you’re always going to have that time.”
Miller says that…but he is a competitor and the drive to succeed emerges like anyone else who instinctively loves to win.
“I can’t wait to get to the next level to be able to compete for a spot,” Miller said. “To show not only myself, but my coaches as well that I’m deserving of this spot, and I will always compete to make sure I maintain [that spot].”
Before that, Miller and the rest of his Winslow Township teammates have some business to take care of. *
Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstories.com
Some information is from MaxPreps.