The light bulb has turned on for Crown Point senior Josh Miller.
It began glowing in the middle of last season during the Bulldogs’ historic run to the Class 6A championship game. But it reached full brightness as the 6-foot-4, 205-pound defensive end became one of the shining stars on a lockdown defense this season.
“I told him during the offseason he was my pick to click, and he hasn’t let me down,” Crown Point coach Craig Buzea said. “Having watched him dominate at times on the JV level his sophomore and junior year, I just thought he could be a special player if he devoted himself to the weight room and worked on developing his craft more seriously — and special he has been.”
As Crown Point (11-0) prepares to play Fort Wayne Carroll (9-2) in a regional Friday night, Miller has team highs with six sacks and nine tackles for loss among his 31 total tackles.
“He’s had an incredible year and is a big reason why our first-team defense has only given up three touchdowns so far this year,” Buzea said.
Miller has come a long way to reach that point. He recalled his introduction to high school football.
“I was terrible freshman year,” he said. “I was terrible. I was 160 playing D-line, getting thrown everywhere.”
Miller said he “kinda jacked around” for the next two years.
“I didn’t take it seriously,” he said. “I just didn’t take it seriously. A lot of coaches would yell at me a lot, and I would cry about it, like, ‘Why are they getting on me? Why am I not playing more when I should be?’ It’s because I wasn’t listening. I wasn’t a coachable player. I just wasn’t listening. I was talking to my buddies, joking around the entire time.
“I’ve been playing football for most of my life, since I was 6 or 7. I love the sport, and I didn’t want to be riding the bench just because I was messing around.”
Playing primarily on special teams for the varsity team last season, Miller said he “would just sorta run around and hit someone.” But something clicked.
“I was like, ‘This is a program I want to be a part of and succeed in,’” he said. “I was ready to get out there and try to make a difference on defense. I loved the atmosphere. It’s just where I could get to be me. I was like, ‘I’m going to start next year, maybe get a couple of reps this year.’ I didn’t get the reps, but I learned a lot and got serious.”
Miller has, in fact, started this season, and he has produced.
“Josh is one of the players that really gets the defense going,” Crown Point junior linebacker/tight end Trevor Gibbs said. “The energy he consistently brings every day is what gets us hyped. He’s also a great leader all around.”
Indeed, Miller has been a captain for most of the season. He said he “realized this team needed a leader and a hype man,” and he has tried to fit that bill.
“Josh is everything you could ask for in a teammate,” Crown Point senior quarterback Noah Ehrlich said. “He’s the type of kid that you’re happy to have on your side because he just gives 110% into everything he does. He’s a natural leader and has taken tremendous strides since I’ve been here.
“It’s been pretty special being able to see him grow — and also gaining a brother through the process.”
Buzea also has noticed the power of Miller’s personality.
“He plays the game with tremendous passion and enthusiasm, and it spreads, not only throughout our defense, but throughout our team,” Buzea said.
Becoming a leader, Miller also had to learn certain protocols, though.
“I love going out there before the game and staring down the opponent,” he said. “I never look away. The first couple of weeks — I was raised to always look someone in the eye when they’re talking to you — so when the ref would be telling us the rules, I would be looking him in the eye. Noah pulled me aside and was like, ‘I see you looking at the ref. You have to stay looking at the opponent.’ I was like, ‘Oh, shoot.’”
Miller hopes his opportunities to represent Crown Point continue. With his newfound focus, he isn’t ready for his career to end. He even envisions playing football in college.
“I’ve matured,” he said. “I locked in, and I just wanted to be out here. I play football here. I love it. I don’t want this to be my last year.
“Right now, football is all I care about. I have a girlfriend who’s sick of me because I’m only thinking about football.”
