Blake Miller has never been wired to walk away early — not from a practice, not from a season, and certainly not from Clemson.
As the Tigers prepare for the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, Miller will suit up one last time wearing orange, a decision rooted less in draft stock and more in loyalty.
“For me, I love being around the team,” Miller said. “I love being around the coaches. Love being around my teammates, and just want to be able to finish things out with them and play one last game together.”
Miller enters the bowl game 42 snaps shy of Mitch Hyatt’s all-time snap record at Clemson, a milestone that underscores both durability and mindset. He has never missed a game due to injury — a point of pride that reflects how he’s approached his career.
“I don’t want to let those guys down,” Miller said. “Whether I’m feeling 100 percent or 75 percent, if I can go, I’m going to go.”
That mentality has defined his Clemson tenure. Miller recalled playing through a broken wrist during spring ball, practicing with a cast and later a protective mitten — not because it was easy, but because it mattered.
“If I can go, I want to be able to go,” he said. “Even if I’m at a disadvantage, I still want to be out there honing my skills.”
Now, the final chapter unfolds in New York City — a place Miller has never visited.
“I’ve never been to New York,” Miller said. “I’m excited to experience Yankee Stadium and just a different atmosphere.”
For Miller, though, the setting is secondary. The meaning is in the locker room, the snaps, and the chance to finish alongside the same teammates he started with.
“I’m so grateful for my time here,” he said. “Not only how I’ve grown as a football player, but as a man.”