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Gill gets first 2011 verbal commitment

By Jayson Jenks

Friday, March 5, 2010

Entering the recruiting process, running back Darrian Miller pictured what he wanted from a university.

And after talking with coach Turner Gill and running backs coach Reggie Mitchell during the recruiting process, Miller decided he found a place that fit his criteria.

He verbally committed to Kansas Wednesday night.

Miller, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back from Blue Springs, Mo., is the first known commitment of Kansas’ 2011 recruiting class.

“I liked everything about coach Gill,” Miller said. “He was very punctual when we were talking. He explained the blueprint of what he was trying to do with the program, and I was eating it all up. It was everything that I wanted.”

As a junior, Miller rushed for 2,798 yards and 37 touchdowns, according to Rivals.com. He was named Missouri’s Gatorade Player of the Year.

Rivals.com also states that he has offers from Kansas State, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Miller was recruited by Mitchell. In addition to his duties as running backs coach, Mitchell serves as Kansas’ recruiting coordinator.

“I had a criteria of what I wanted a college to offer and they exceeded it by a lot,” Miller said. “I didn’t find any flaws in the program. It was just really family-like and I felt like it was a good fit for me.”

Miller will enter a Kansas program that’s currently filled with young running backs. Freshman Toben Opurum rushed for 554 yards during his first season and Gill added two running backs in his 2010 recruiting class.

“In all honesty, it really didn’t make that big of a difference to me,” Miller said. “I’m never going to shy away from a program because of competition or anything. I’ve seen them play and I think they’re good backs. But I think I’m a good back, too.”

Miller will join former high school teammate Keeston Terry, a wide receiver in Kansas’ 2010 recruiting class.

— Edited by Taylor Bern

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