NEW ORLEANS — Drew Miller will celebrate his birthday Tuesday.
On Wednesday, he’ll be in line to attempt his first collegiate punt.
A freshman from Mediapolis, Iowa, Miller is in line to be Georgia’s starting punter for the remainder of the 2024 season. He’ll step into the role previously held by Brett Thorson, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the win over Texas on Dec. 7 in the SEC Championship game.
Thorson is one of the best punters in the country, as he was a Ray Guy finalist this season. Miller knows he has big shoes to fill, but he’s ready for the opportunity in front of him.
“Just trying to get as prepared as possible,” Miller said Monday. “Me and Brett have been in the film room, critiquing and watching the team play. Trying to get as ready as possible.”
It’s rare for teams to have two scholarship punters, but that is the case for Georgia. Thorson has been one of the best punters in recent years, building off what Jake Camarda was able to do before him.
Georgia tight ends coach Todd Hartley, who handles a lot of punt-team responsibilities, is confident in what Miller can bring to the table.
“Drew’s obviously a talented kid that we knew through the recruiting process,” Hartley said. “Look, you don’t take another punter on scholarship when you have a guy like Brett Thorson on the roster, if you didn’t think Drew Miller was somebody that’s special, right? And so Drew was an unbelievable kid in high school and everything we’ve seen from him to this point, we each believe that he’s gonna be a good punter for us as well.”
Yet because Thorson still had additional eligibility remaining, Georgia was able to be patient with how it brought Miller along during his freshman season. Miller candidly said he needed to do a better job of taking care of his body as he made the transition from Iowa high school football to life in the SEC.
But Miller came to Georgia because he wanted to be a part of the Georgia culture. He wants to be coached hard, a good sign that Miller understands what playing at Georgia is about.
Credit: Conor Dillon/UGAAA
Credit: Conor Dillon/UGAAA
Georgia did not punt again after Thorson suffered his injury in the SEC Championship game. Charlie Ham was lined up as the punter on Georgia’s memorable fake punt in the win over Texas.
While Miller hasn’t punted in a game for Georgia this season, he’s eager for the opportunity. Most won’t be thrilled to see Miller punt — given it means the Georgia offense has not scored — he and the Georgia team know that strong special teams play will go a long way in determining the outcome of a game between two top-tier teams.
“We think he’s really talented, and he does a great job, and he’s worked really hard to get the opportunity, and he punts every day in practice and does a tremendous job,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart previously said of Miller. “He’s a very highly recruited kid who we’ve got a lot of confidence in.”
Georgia’s game against Notre Dame is set for an 8:45 p.m. ET start on ABC.
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