Indians name Miller starting quarterback

JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) -- Tommy Miller will start at quarterback for Arkansas State on Aug. 25 when the Indians travel to Blacksburg, Va., to meet Virginia Tech.

Arkansas State coach Steve Roberts said he was as impressed with the senior's leadership as with his handling of the Indians' new, two-back offense.

"When he stepped in the huddle he really had the attention of all the other guys in the huddle," Roberts said. "And one of the things about a quarterback, the quarterback has to be able to step in there and make the other 10 people in there play better than they believe they can play."

Miller said he was excited at the prospect of leading his team in its first game this season.

"But I try not to let it go to my head. One of the things I learned from last year is to come out and get better as a player and have fun and be excited to be able to play football," Miller said.

Sophomore Josh Driscoll, of Fort Smith Southside, is listed in the Indians' depth chart as the No. 2 quarterback. The chart is only two-deep, but lefthanded sophomore Elliot Jacobs, of El Dorado, was apparently No. 3.

Those three have borne most of the burden in pre-season practice, though Miller missed spring practice because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered last season.

Miller, 6-4, 198, is a redshirt senior and the only senior among ASU's quarterback corps. He spent most of his time at ASU languishing on the depth chart somewhere behind four-year starter Cleo Lemon.

He got his chance last year after injuries to freshmen starters Josh Driscoll and Elliot Jacobs. He came off the bench in the fourth quarter of the Idaho game, the seventh game of the year, to engineer a 98-yard touchdown drive capped by his 1-yard run with 1 minute, 38 seconds left.

Miller was 4 of 5 for 51 yards on the drive, and Coach Joe Hollis immediately named him the starter for the following week at Middle Tennessee State.

"How can you forget the Idaho game last year?" senior receiver James Hickenbotham said. "I have the utmost confidence in him and I can't wait to get started."

 

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