Dre'lon Miller Q&A

Dre’lon Miller’s football career has brought him full circle.

He was a standout high school wide receiver in Texas whose talent brought him to Colorado. After spending two seasons with the Buffaloes, including their breakthrough nine-win season led by Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, Miller transferred back home to Baylor. And this Saturday, Miller and the Bears are hosting Colorado in their Big 12 opener.

Ahead of a big game for both programs, Miller spoke with Athlon Sports about his time with the Buffaloes, the start of the Bears’ season and his game day preparation. Miller also shared the details of his partnership with Casey’s, which provides fans with pizza promotions for game days.

(This interview was conducted on Sept. 17 and has been lightly edited for clarity.)

Kyle Wood: Dre’lon, it’s great to meet you. I know you’ve got a game coming up here real soon, and a big one next week, so I’m excited to get to talk to you.

Dre’lon Miller: Yes, sir, appreciate you.

KW: A few games into your Bears tenure — I know you had the big Week 1 game — what’s the feeling right now around the program?

DM: Honestly, just getting used to everything. Of course, we didn’t start the season how we wanted to start, but our mentality is just to go 1-0 each week.

Kyle Wood: Definitely. And what appealed to you in the transfer portal about Baylor, and specifically coach Dave Aranda, to land at Baylor?

DM: Honestly, it was a big thing just coming back to Texas. And once I got to talk to coach Aranda, and seeing how much he wants to win, that meant a lot to me — because honestly, I want to win too, and so that’s why I came here.

KW: Was there anything about the offensive involvement — like a vision for how to involve you in the offense — that was a draw as well?

DM: Of course, coach Spav [offensive coordinator Jake Spavital] blew me away on my visit, just how much they throw the ball here, and how much receivers — like, I think last week, 11 different people touched the ball, so that was big. And yeah, just seeing how they throw the ball around.

KW: What’s been the impact of DJ Lagway’s injury? Nate Bennett has stepped up. But for you as a receiver, what’s it like getting used to two different quarterbacks like that?

DM: Yeah, I mean, it’s different without DJ being on the field, of course. Hopefully, he can be back 100% soon, but at the end of the day, whichever quarterback’s out there, I got 100% faith in him and that they’ll get the job done.

Kyle Wood: And looking ahead to when your old team, Colorado, visits, what will be your reception toward the Buffs and some of your old teammates and coaches?

DM: Oh, man, it’s gonna be great, just to see some familiar faces, [I] haven’t seen in a while. It’d be a great way to start off the Big 12 play. But like I said, our goal is to go 1-0 each week.

KW: Do you still talk to any of your teammates from Colorado?

Dre’lon Miller: Oh, yeah, most definitely. I still stay in touch with the ones that are still there. I still talk to them pretty often.

KW: And do you have a favorite memory from your time at Colorado?

DM: Most definitely has to be my first college touchdown. First college touchdown in that stadium, probably my favorite memory there.

KW: And you scored your first touchdown as a Bear last week. I know you’re less involved in the opener, but you take your first touch to the house. How do you build on that performance going forward?

DM: That’s a great question. I would say just keep moving forward. You know, that was last week, hopefully it can happen again this week, but honestly, just as long as we win the game, that’s all we need to do.

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KW: I know you spent some time at running back at Colorado. I’m curious what the mid-season transition was like? That’s a tough thing to do. What was that change like?

DM: Honestly, it was hard. It was very different. All the running backs had gotten injured, and it was just like, ‘Who can do it and step up?’ And that was one of them things, it was just like, ‘Of course, I’ll take the ball.’ I mean, I don’t mind having the ball in my hands, and it was just something I had to do for the team. And yeah, that was it.

Kyle Wood: Did you have much experience? I know you had had some carries in high school, but did you have much experience specifically out of the backfield?

DM: I’m familiar with anything as long as the ball’s in my hands, I feel like I can do it, honestly, and in high school I was quarterback, running back, receiver, so in college, I did the same thing. It’s just how much I can learn in playbook, I feel like that’s the main thing.

KW: Yep, that’s important. Can you describe what it was like being on that 2024 Colorado team? I know that’s your introduction to college football, and that’s one of the most fun teams of the last several years. You’ve got the Heisman Trophy winner [Travis Hunter], playing with Shedeur [Sanders], and of course, [coach] Deion [Sanders]. What was that like?

DM: Man, it was amazing. Just being a freshman, just to be the sponge in the room, soaking up all the knowledge from the older guys, who’s now playing on Sundays. It was big, for sure, just to take all the teaching points. I still talk to those guys, honestly, and I’m happy for them. But I mean, that was special.

KW: Were there any games that stand out? It just seemed like there was so much attention, on the team, and you coming in right away and just being a part of that. Anything specifically that stands out? It seems like there was a target on your back every week.

DM: It was different on our away games, the fans, how they would do things at the bus. It was… That was crazy, for sure, but I’d probably say, the CSU [Colorado State] game — going to their stadium, that was cool. That was an experience for sure.

KW: And, going back to the quarterbacks, can you tell me a little bit about maybe what DJ and Nate separately bring to the table?

DM: Oh, yeah, honestly, that’s a good one. I just feel like, in that point of view, just the size, for sure. I compared Nate, give me, like, Aaron Rodgers. And then you have DJ in there. DJ is just like a bigger Lamar Jackson, I would say.

KW: And I understand that you’re partnering with Casey’s to help power fans throughout tailgate season. Can you tell me a little bit about what you’re doing, specifically for the partnership?

DM: Oh yeah, most definitely. It was based in Iowa, so just bringing that over here to Waco was big, just in Texas. And I feel like Casey’s Pizzas, that was my first time trying it not too long ago, and it’s been great. Like, they got this breakfast pizza, so on Saturdays now, it’s, college football season, so you can get 40% off just using the code TOUCHDOWN. And since we play at 11, and some of these games are earlier now, you can go get that breakfast pizza for tailgates, man. Do it every time.

Kyle Wood: That sounds good. So, you’re ordering a Casey’s Pizza. What are you putting on it? Are you going the breakfast pizza, or are you getting something else?

DM: I mean, it’s never too late for breakfast, but I mean it depends on your dinner, breakfast. But for me, most definitely, I’m gonna go down and just order that breakfast pizza with sausage on top. You can do sausage or bacon, but I like the sausage.

KW: Yeah, I think that’s a good call. Fans are tailgating, they’ve got their traditions, like you mentioned, getting pizza before games, especially some of those early kickoffs. What are your pregame habits like? You know, you’re waking up game day, is there a playlist? What are you eating on a game day? What is that all like for you?

DM: Honestly, me just getting up early, and I’m not big on naps, so hopefully we got an earlier game where we can’t take naps. So usually just waking up, being on TikTok is big for me. And on the way to the stadium, I usually listen to some gospel music all the way there. And then once I get to the stadium, I usually take a lap around the field, and that’s it. Ready to go after that.

Kyle Wood: Interesting. It’s funny that you said you like an early kickoff. Do you find that to be more common among players? I think fans love the prime time — 7:30, 8 o’clock — but is that easier for you on the body clock?

DM: I just feel like that’s what we’re used to. I mean, at the end of the week, practice every morning around 9 o’clock, so I feel like it won’t be a big adjustment at all. I feel like the bigger adjustment is the night games. But yeah, it’s something we gotta get our body prepared to. Just having, that afternoon off where we just have to sit in the hotel and wait. I feel like it’s more eager to just get out there and go and play.

KW: After an early game like that are you watching other college games going on the night after a home game if you don’t have to travel back?

DM: Oh, yeah, most definitely, especially with this week, hopefully after we handle business, come back home, chill with the family and watch some college football games for sure.

KW: That sounds good, Dre’lon. I really appreciate the time. Best of luck the rest of the season, this week and going forward.

DM: Yes, sir, appreciate you.