A veteran leader on the Maryland football team is expected to help set the tone for the entire program. For one player, developing into such a teammate gave him the chance to don the No. 1 jersey.
Terps redshirt senior defensive back Glen Miller wore No. 13 prior to the 2024 season. Head coach Michael Locksley awarded the No. 1 jersey to Miller, who thought he was in trouble when he was called into the coach’s office before the season.
“I called Glen and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a gift for you,'” Locksley said. “He thought he was coming to see me because he was in trouble again. I said, ‘Do you want to wear No. 1?’ He was kind of hesitant and I said, ‘You’ve earned it. You do things the right way.’ He’s a guy that has a positive impact on his teammates. We’ve seen that maturity out of Glen.”
Miller said this season felt like the perfect time to wear it, considering he was entering his final year in College Park.
“I would say this being my fifth year, I’ve seen it all as in the ups and the downs of Maryland, and I’ve been part of it,” Miller said. “So, I think it’s only right that I should have [No. 1] as my final year to go out. And what comes [with that] is leadership. You have to lead the right way and play as No. 1. When problems come, you have to be the one to take them, more than likely, which I’m OK with doing as a leader of the team.”
The 6-foot-2, 206-pound defensive back had racked up 22 tackles, three interceptions, three passes defensed and one fumble recovery through Maryland’s first five games of the season, spending time at safety and nickel back. Wearing No. 1 and being one of the most productive players on the team doesn’t stop him from seeking advice from others, though.
Miller mentioned he leans on teammates such as seniors Ruben Hyppolite and Dante Trader Jr. and juniors Billy Edwards Jr. and Roman Hemby for advice. Hyppolite explained one piece of advice he has given Miller and other teammates.
“The main one is just putting your head down and working,” Hyppolite said. “At times when you’re having success or going through hardships, sometimes there are no right answers. Just go stick your head down and work. Throughout the years that’s my message to Glen.”
Miller prefers to lead by example. He’s more than qualified to do so, according to Hyppolite.
“Glen’s ability to lead is very different, very unique,” Hyppolite said. “A lot of younger guys see themselves in him. He’s able to pull the younger guys and inspire them to be better. They can gravitate to [Miller’s story] and relate to that and see themselves in him.”
A native of Orange Park, Fla., Miller was a two-way threat at Ridgeview High School. Miller totaled 40 receptions for 856 yards and nine touchdowns as a receiver along with 113 tackles, five tackles for loss, six interceptions and five forced fumbles as a defensive back.
Miller added that playing receiver “makes it a little easier” for him to track the ball on defense.
“I always played both, but it was a little more natural for me to play defense, the way I was just able to go win the ball and the way I was OK with contact to play safety,” Miller said.
When asked which position is more challenging, Miller did not hesitate.
“The fact that we’re moving backward and good receivers are going forward at us,” he said playing defensive back. “But then on top of that, you have to have a good mindset and understand that things can go bad, having that next-play mentality.”
Miller committed to Maryland in December 2019 as part of the Class of 2020. He saw action in 23 games during his first three years, totaling 24 tackles, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. That led to a breakout year in 2023 when he had 37 tackles, four interceptions and eight passes defensed. He started seven games in 2023 compared to one the previous three years combined.
That didn’t happen by accident. Miller said he became more studious watching film and paid more attention to what he called “the little things.”
“The little things can be anything from the walkthroughs to note-taking when you’re in meetings, the extra lifts after practice, setting meeting time with [Locksley] trying to clarify any questions you have because no question is a dumb question. Clear up any problems that you have to make sure Saturdays are the easy days,” Miller said.
Miller made history early this season. He tallied interceptions in the Terps’ first two games, meaning he had recorded interceptions in four consecutive games dating back to the final two games of the 2023 season. That’s the most in program history since Lewis Sanders had five straight games with an interception in 1999.
Miller does not set personal goals. He is more concerned with how his team performs. However, he does have interception celebrations planned — if he can remember them.
“When we’re in the hotel talking before the game, I’ll say something like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to do this,'” Miller said. “But then I go out there and the emotions are too high, so I just do whatever and try to celebrate with my team. So it never really goes as planned.”
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox
Issue 289: October/November 2024
Originally published Oct. 16, 2024