Iowa Eight football: Ridge View OT Ezra Miller might be the nimblest 305-pounder in the Midwest

Matthew Bain
The Des Moines Register

Ezra Miller

School: Ridge View

Ridge View rising junior Ezra Miller was the first verbal commitment of Iowa's 2019 football recruiting class. Miller is a 6-6, 300-pound offensive tackle and is considered a four-star recruit.

Class: 2019

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 305 pounds

Position: Offensive tackle

Key stats: Last season, Miller was the anchor for an offensive line that paved the way for 2,041 rushing yards (on 5.2 yards per carry). He projects at offensive tackle, but he also plays on the defensive line in high school and racked up 37 tackles, five solo tackles for loss and two solo sacks as a junior.

Why he’s one of the Iowa Eight

Miller isn't just a set of impressive measurables on a depth chart. He combines his Power Five frame with impressive bend and flexibility to create an offensive tackle that projects well pretty quickly at the next level. While he may not seem it at first glance, Miller is one of the more nimble offensive tackles you'll see.

In March, he traveled to San Francisco for the Nike Opening Regionals and took home lineman MVP honors among a loaded field of prospects.

247Sports absolutely loves Miller, ranking him the No. 83 overall prospect in 2019 and the No. 13 offensive tackle.

Meet the Register's Iowa Eight

Future prospects

Way back in April 2017, Miller committed to the Hawkeyes over Iowa State and Minnesota. He's been a leading recruiter of Iowa's 2019 class ever since.

Quotable

"Obviously, when a kid goes out to California like he did and performs the way that he did, it's a good sign. He's not a kid who probably had done a lot of shorts and t-shirts, one-on-one type of stuff before. So the fact that he was able to shine in that setting, I think, says a lot about his upside."

— Allen Trieu, 247Sports Midwest recruiting analyst 

Other announced Iowa Eight players:

What is the Iowa Eight?

The Iowa Eight is the Register’s preseason list of the eight best football prospects in the state, weighing past performance and future projection. Incoming freshmen through seniors are eligible. Selections are based on Register staff observations and consultation with high school, college and scouting contacts. The Register will have additional Iowa Eight lists for key prep boys’ and girls’ sports throughout the year.

Matthew Bain covers college football and basketball recruiting for the Des Moines Register. He also helps with Iowa and Iowa State football and basketball coverage for HawkCentral and Cyclone Insider. Contact him at mbain@dmreg.com and follow him on Twitter @MatthewBain_.