A second-level talent whose immediate projection remains muddied for some, Florida’s Ventrell Miller isn’t a ‘backer to overlook. A downhill thumper with the athleticism to wear a multitude of hats for a defense, a spotlight is deserved for one of the more underrated linebackers in the class.

Miller was a five-year impact player for the Gators. While we didn’t get a chance to see him work at the Senior Bowl or the NFL Combine (both events he was present at) as he recovers from a bone graft procedure in late December, microscoping his game will present a team with a physical, experienced, and higher level athletic profile than people give him credit for.

“I wish I had the chance to run in Indy because people don’t realize how fast I am,” Ventrell Miller said.

Numbers at Florida from their sports science and performance staff clocked him near 22 mph on GPS tracking recently, analytics that translate roughly to a 4.4 40-yard dash. While he’s known for his ability to play inside the hashes where his throwback style of play provides a punch and physicality that’s become more and more extinct as the years go on, his burst is a part of his game that’s gone drastically undervalued.

“The game has gotten much faster over the years—linebackers need to play sideline to sideline. I do that, and I’m ready to show out,” Miller said.

While he’s expected to be a full go for rookie minicamp this spring, the focus now remains on working back to full strength. While the battle between the smart approach and his desire to compete has been a daily encounter, learning about the man behind the facemask showcases an athlete any war room would pound the table to draft come April.

“[Teams] are getting a relentless competitor week in and week out,” Miller said.

A prospect that grew up in Florida and attended the same high school as Ray Lewis—a player he models his game around—a formal meeting with the Baltimore Ravens at the combine was a surreal moment, surely. The charismatic individual that enjoys fishing and the outdoors in his free time has preached one thing over and over to teams about who they are getting at the second level of their defense.

“A ball player. I’m high-energy and am always around the ball,” Miller said. “I love the game of football… I love the grind.”