Penn State defensive end Shareef Miller announced his intentions to enter the NFL Draft on Wednesday.
Miller thanked his family, the Penn State coaching staff — specifically Coach James Franklin and defensive line coach/associate head coach Sean Spencer — and the Penn State fan base for the opportunities he was given as a collegiate athlete in a letter posted on Twitter.
‘Nittany Nation, thank you for embracing me and my family here at PSU,’ the letter read. ‘There is no other fan base in the world like you guys and the energy you bring to the stadium every Saturday is unbelievable… I stand here beyond blessed. After careful consideration with my family and coaches, I have decided to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft.’
Penn State DL Shareef Miller is leaving school and turning pro. pic.twitter.com/uoSnMGIX8T
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 2, 2019
He capped off a strong Penn State career by earning third team All Big-Ten honors as a junior. His final season in the Blue and White featured 33 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. Even with these strong of numbers, many would argue his presence was felt beyond the stat sheet.
Miller is likely to be selected on the third day of the draft. Although being paired alongside Yetur Gross-Matos next year could potentially elevate his numbers and draft status, he decided to make the move to the next level early.
The Philadelphia native stepped up as a major defensive leader this season, mentoring many of the newcomers like Micah Parsons. He will certainly be missed in the locker room and on the field, as Spencer will have his hands full in the offseason to replace his production.
Penn State will now turn to linemen like Shaka Toney, Shane Simmons, Daniel Joseph, and Jayson Oweh to fill the gap at defensive end next year alongside Gross-Matos.
