Coynis Miller's potential starting to shine

[WFE12 9,191]

Coynis Miller’s potential starting to shine

Giana Han

When Coynis Miller Jr. left for Auburn, his high school coach told him that one of two things would happen: either he’d return home looking to transfer or the light would turn on and he’d be a first-round pick someday.

It’s been a year, and Miller is still at Auburn. And it seems like that light might be coming on.

Tim Vakakes is the head football coach at Jackson-Olin High School. From the moment Miller arrived at in 10th grade, Vakakes has kept it “100 percent real.” That hasn’t changed since Miller left his program to go to Auburn.

When Miller wasn’t getting much playing time, Vakakes noticed although he wasn’t surprised. He knew it was because Miller wasn’t practicing right, not because he wasn’t good enough. He told him that that was on Miller and Miller alone because, with his talent, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be playing.

When Miller played well against Florida, Vakakes noticed that, too. Once again, he was prepared because he knew that Miller had been practicing right. And when the light is on for Miller, he’s “unblockable.” That game showed just what Miller could do.

“I tell them he might be one of the laziest, laziest kids you're going to sign,” Vakakes said. “And I told them that. He doesn't handle adversity well. He doesn't like to really, really, really get down and dirty and work.”

Versie Cunningham, Miller’s mother, said part of it is because he’s the baby of five. His siblings spoiled him “from the day he got home from the hospital.”

But it’s also because Miller never had to work hard to be the best. He could get away with things because he was so good — until Vakakes came his coach and made him work his butt off.

The warning didn’t scare the schools away. Twelve schools, including Alabama, LSU, Florida, Michigan and Auburn gave Miller offers.

It came down to Alabama, Florida and Auburn. Miller’s dad, Coynis Miller, was an Alabama fan. Cunningham was an Auburn fan. They both tried not to influence him, and neither knew what he was thinking as he prepared to make his announcement on his birthday, October 14.

Cunningham said she was shocked and pleased when he picked Auburn. When she asked him why, he told her “because it feels like home.”

When he made his decision, Vakakes told him he would soon be in a room full “future millionaires” with players like Derrick Brown, Nick Coe and Marlon Davidson around.

“So why not let what they do rub off on you?” Vakakes said.

The thing with Miller is, he’s never in awe of people. He’s quiet and does his own thing. It gives him an edge but it also means he doesn’t necessarily try to emulate players he can learn from.

“Coynis is his own Coynis,” Brown said.

He might not copy the other players, but something clicked for Miller in the past year.

Cunningham said she and Miller’s siblings used to joke at games about how Miller was always the last one running onto the field. That’s not true anymore.

Miller has played in four games with a tackle and a pass break up. The Auburn coaches tell Cunningham and Vakakes that Miller’s practicing right, that he’s smiling more and just enjoying himself.

“You know, last year's Coynis was questionable,” Brown said. “But now, his motor's high. He really wants it.”

Miller is receiving more of the tough love he got from Vakakes in the form of defensive line coach Rodney Garner, which has pushed him to be better. He also really looks up to Brown, Cunningham said. It’s good for him not to be the best guy in the room.

But the biggest thing, Cunningham said, is the death of his father.

Miller Sr. died of a heart attack on April 17, 2018.

Cunningham said she was worried how he’d respond. It would either make or break him.

“But he has really taken the death of his dad, of his father, and has applied it to himself and is really just striving to do so much better,” Cunningham said.

He mentions a lot that he wants to make his father proud. He’s also realized that, with players like Brown and Davidson graduating next year, he could be in line for a starting position.

“We watched film the other day, and we were looking at the tape and we were laughing and stuff,” Brown said. “It’s kind of like, Coynis may not have done that a year ago.”

There’s still some maturing to do, but the powerful, deceptively fast player with hips “about as strong as you’re ever going to see” is starting to show his potential. He’s taking pride in his game, now, too, going home and showing his mom clips of all the plays where he’s performed well.

The light might be coming on. Brown mentioned Miller as one of the up-and-coming young players. And if that light reaches its full brightness, Miller might pick up a phone call from an NFL team on the very first day of the draft.

“It’s that extreme,” Vakakes said.

[Sizzle 3,912]

Keep that consistency. Only person that can stop him is himself 

[Pedaler 1,001]

Reminds me of what Muschamp said of Montravious Adams: "He loses $1M for every play he takes off." MA finally turned it on.

[JDUBB4AU 5,112]

Coynis has to be the mountain in the middle next year .