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Ex-Miller, Georgia star signs with Atlanta Falcons

• Former Miller County and Georgia standout Brandon Miller becomes one of five former Bulldogs to sign free-agent deals with NFL teams Monday as Miller heads to Atlanta.

Scott Chancey

FLOWERY BRANCH — It did not take long for Colquitt native Brandon Miller’s shot at the NFL.

Miller, who finished his senior season last fall at Georgia by recording his first collegiate sack and recovering a fumble in the Sugar Bowl, signed a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday. He now is a teammate of ex- Dougherty County and Louisville star Montavious Stanley, who already is with Atlanta.

“When he was a sophomore in high school, I always thought he had the potential to play at the D-1 level,” said Ronnie McNeese, the Miller County football coach who coached Miller in high school. “If I was over an NFL team, I certainly would have picked him up. He’s an athlete. The kid, here at Miller County, did everything small school. He was a wideout, tight end, running back, linebacker. He just did it all and maybe that was a liability in college because he had done all those things.”

McNeese then added: “As far as him being an athlete, knowing his family background and watching and coaching him, my endorsement might not mean a lot, but I assure you it would be 150 percent of whatever you will get. He can really do remarkable things. I really think someone would be crazy not to pick him up for whatever reason. Maybe he could be on special teams or something to start with. He’s got it.”

In all, nine Bulldogs players from last years’ team are heading to the NFL.

Four (Sugar Bowl MVP DE Marcus Howard, Indianapolis; RB Thomas Brown, Falcons; OL Chester Adams, Chicago and Brandon Coutu, Seattle) were actually drafted. RB Kregg Lumpkin (Green Bay), DB Kelin Johnson (Seahawks), WR Sean Bailey (Kansas City) and center Fernando Velasco (Tennessee) were the other Georgia players who signed free-agent deals.

Miller, a Herald Dynamite Dozen selection and 2004 Pirates graduate, was recruited by other schools to play other than defense. Florida and Alabama even wanted him as a receiver. At Georgia, he played outside linebacker for most of his career before being moved to defensive end late this past season. As a senior, he started seven games at outside linebacker and finished the season with 34 tackles.

McNeese felt the Bulldogs’ shifting of Miller among those different positions affected his draft outlook. Now that Miller is in the NFL, McNeese seemed confident he could make it on to the roster. One other notable free agent from Southwest Georgia — ex-Bainbridge and Georgia Tech star James Butler — made it on to the New York Giants’ roster and then started this past Super Bowl which his team won.

“I think he is very capable of playing on Sunday afternoons and I think he will be an asset,” McNeese said of Miller. “I’m just a strong advocate because I know he’s got the ability.”

OTHER FALCONS MOVES

The Falcons also announced Monday they have signed linebacker Isaac Brown, Central Michigan; punter Jimmie Kaylor, Colorado State; cornerback Glenn Sharpe, Miami; free safety D.J. Wolfe, Oklahoma; running back Jamar Brittingham, Bloomsburg; and offensive tackle Michael Butterworth, Slippery Rock.

Brittingham (6-0, 203) is the all-time leading rusher and scorer for Division II Bloomsburg. He was one of the nine finalists for the Harlon Hill Award as the Division II player of the year.

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