|
Lonyae Miller Interview
Running Back - Fresno State
By: Alex Khvatov
10/12/09
|
Alex Khvatov:
What are your measurements (height, weight and forty
time)?
Lonyae Miller:
I am 5'11", I weigh 225 pounds and I ran a 4.39 in the
spring.
Alex Khvatov:
Coming out of high school, what universities showed
interest in you?
Lonyae Miller:
Besides Fresno State, it was Oregon State, UTEP and
UCLA. That is about it.
Alex Khvatov:
What made you choose Fresno State?
Lonyae Miller:
It is a really good school. It is a good football
community. It is the biggest football program in the
area. They have very loyal fans. It is close to home. I
have a lot of family in this area. It is an all-around
good program.
Alex Khvatov:
Lonyae, describe your experience of playing for your
head coach Pat Hill.
Lonyae Miller:
I mean coach Hill is pretty good. He is a hell of a
coach. He has built a great program here. He is hard
nosed and he expects a lot out of his players. He gets a
lot out of us. He has been doing it for awhile.
Alex Khvatov:
What are your strengths on the football field?
Lonyae Miller:
It is definitely my speed. I have big play ability.
I can take it the distance any time I touch the
football. I can take it 80 or 90 yards. Big play ability
sets me apart from the other RB's.
Alex Khvatov:
What areas of your game do you need to improve upon?
Lonyae Miller:
I think that I need to improve upon my versatility.
I need to make more guys miss in the open field.
Alex Khvatov:
Who is the one NFL player that you would compare your
game to?
Lonyae Miller:
I really admire running back Adrian Peterson because
of his power and running style. He runs hard. He has
great speed. He is devastating. He can take it the
distance. I admire his playing style and toughness.
Alex Khvatov:
What is the highlight of your football career up to this
point?
Lonyae Miller:
The highlight of my career is the 90-yard TD against
Idaho last year.
Alex Khvatov:
Who is the toughest opposing player that you have faced
during your career?
Lonyae Miller:
The toughest opposing player that I played against
was the safety from Washington during my freshman year.
I don't remember his name, but he was a big hitter.
Alex Khvatov:
What is your favorite NFL team?
Lonyae Miller:
Denver. I am pretty excited right now because that they
are 4-0 after the Dallas win.
Alex Khvatov:
Who is your favorite NFL player?
Lonyae Miller:
My favorite player is Terrell Davis. I am a big Terrell
Davis fan.
Alex Khvatov:
Who is the best RB in college football right now?
Lonyae Miller:
C.J. Spiller is pretty good. I like the way he plays.
Alex Khvatov:
Tell me about your teammate, junior RB Ryan Mathews.
Lonyae Miller:
I mean on the field, he is awesome. He is very athletic
and talented. He does some things on the field that most
RB's can't do. He is the coolest guy. We are really
close. Off-the-field, he is really down to earth. I
respect him on and off-the-field.
Alex Khvatov:
Describe your junior season for us.
Lonyae Miller:
During my junior season, I feel that I accomplished a
lot especially in the Hawaii and the Idaho games. It was
a heck of a year. I had a big Bowl game. I had over 800
yards. But I still feel that I was average. I left a few
yards out there. There are always things that you can
improve upon. There is still a lot more that I want to
accomplish during my college career.
Alex Khvatov:
How tough has it been sitting on the sidelines during
your senior campaign?
Lonyae Miller:
It definitely has been tough. I have always had to
prove myself. I have worked my butt off here. I feel
that I am just as good of a back. Seniors like RB
Anthony Harding, who was the leading rusher on our team
last year, has also been sitting on the bench and not
getting any touches. I will continue to work hard. It is
still an early season. I will try to make the most of my
opportunities once I get my chance.
Alex Khvatov:
What are the team's chances this year in the WAC?
Lonyae Miller:
The way I feel is when you look at our roster from
receivers to our defense, we have a lot of depth and
talent. We have made a few mistakes, and teams have
capitalized on it. The season is still early. There is
no team on the schedule that can beat us. So far, we
have beaten ourselves.
Alex Khvatov:
Which underclassman on your team should we keep an eye
on in the future?
Lonyae Miller:
Probably QB Derek Carr. He is a hell of a QB.
Alex Khvatov:
What do you enjoy the most about playing football?
Lonyae Miller:
I enjoy going to the big arenas. I have played at
Wisconisn and at LSU. When you go to the big stadiums,
you get a feel for what college football is all about.
You get to experience the big atmosphere.
Alex Khvatov:
What are your hobbies?
Lonyae Miller:
Away from the field, I like to play video games and
my Xbox. I sleep and eat. I like hanging out with my
son. We spend a lot of time together.
Alex Khvatov: Finish the sentence, Lonyae Miller
is ....
Lonyae Miller:
Two words describe me on and off-the-field, poised and
determined.
|
|
