Memphis Tiger fans lined up early Tuesday morning at the campus bookstore to get a chance to meet former Tiger and seemingly NFL-bound wide receiver Anthony Miller.
Many brought shirts, footballs and pictures for him to sign. Miller took the time to make sure each fan felt special, which included taking selfies with them. For him, this was just his way to show appreciation to a fan base that has shown him exactly that during his time at the university.
“It’s great just seeing all these people, all this support,” Miller said. “They’ve been here throughout all these years. It’s just great to give back.”
Miller is returning to his hometown of Memphis from Charlotte, North Carolina, for his visit to the Carolina Panthers earlier this week. Next week, he is scheduled to visit with between another 10 to 12 teams. He is enjoying the process because he said he is in a position many are not fortunate to have.
“I’m just blessed to be able take all these different trips because a lot of guys don’t have these visits,” Miller said. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”
The NFL Draft will begin April 26 and conclude April 28 in Arlington, Texas, at AT&T Stadium, where the Dallas Cowboys play. Many players attend the draft so they can be on location when they are drafted, but Miller said he plans to stay in Memphis so he can be surrounded by his loved ones.
“I’ll probably have the family together,” Miller said. “We’re not going to go down to Dallas. We just going to be in the comfort in the location we’re in, and we’re just going to hope for the best.”
His father, Tony Miller, said his son’s work ethic and faith is what got him this far. Anthony Miller went from being a walk-on to the all-time leading receiver in Tigers history. Tony Miller said his son’s dedication to the game is recognized by his teammates, which inspires them to play at their best.
“Anthony literally embodies everything about Memphis, (and) he’s probably one of the hardest workers that you’ll ever get,” Tony Miller said. “He hates to lose at anything. He just does not like finishing second in anything.”
Tony Miller said he and his family take the time to come together and pray about their blessings. For them, it is the single most important thing they can do while they are apart. Tony Miller said incorporating prayer in their lives has made a difference.
“My family, we rely on faith,” Tony Miller said. “As a matter of fact, wherever we are in the world on Thursday at 9:00 ... we have a conference call, and we pray together as a family and we stay together as a family. It has really enhanced our life as a whole.”
Tony Miller said his son exemplifies what the power of being together as a family can bring out in a person.
“He just has been an amazing example of what hard work, dedication and prayer can do,” Tony Miller said.
Former Tiger football star Anthony Miller talks to reporters following his autograph signing at the campus bookstore. Miller finished his career as the school's all-time leading receiver.
Anthony Miller signs autographs for Tiger fans at the campus bookstore. Miller finished his career at Memphis as the school's all-time leading receiver.
