Miller confident in Penn State’s new cornerback room

PennLive.com via Trib Total Media

Cam Miller had to wait 24 games to make his first start at Penn State. His next start could be only a couple weeks away.

The Nittany Lions will unveil a revamped cornerback room against West Virginia on Aug. 31 in Morgantown.

Johnny Dixon, Kalen King and Daequan Hardy, Penn State’s top three corners in 2023, are gone.

Miller, the team’s No. 4 corner last season, is set to play a key role. The third-year junior will have help from three transfers: A.J. Harris (Georgia), Jalen Kimber (Florida) and Audavion Collins (Mississippi State).

Second-year Lions Zion Tracy and Elliot Washington are also potential contributors in Terry Smith’s corner rotation.

“I feel very confident about the group we have,” said the 6-foot, 182-pound Miller, who finished 2023 with four tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception. “We’re competitive, we’re making each other better every day.”

Coach James Franklin sees options at the position.

“Cam Miller has got the most experience here at Penn State,” Franklin said in early August when asked about the corner competition.

“You guys know how we feel about AC, Audavion Collins, what he’s been able to do all offseason. Been a ton of conversation. Maybe most improved guy on our roster since the end of the season.

“(Jalen) Kimber has come in and really developed and changed his body in our strength and conditioning program and has played a lot of football in a very good conference. You know (A.J.) Harris. There’s just a lot of guys that we feel good about.”

Miller said the additions of Harris, Kimber and Collins — Collins was on last year’s team, whereas Harris and Kimber are first-year Lions — have made a significant impact on the 2024 defense.

“Very competitive, they’ve got a lot of experience when it comes to the SEC, different perspectives,” Miller said of the transfer corners.

“SEC ball is different than Big Ten, so we’re getting that knowledge from them. It’s just growing the room and helped the room.”

Miller also has been impressed by what new defensive coordinator Tom Allen has done with the defense in a short time. He succeeds Manny Diaz, who is now Duke’s head coach.

“We’re doing a lot of the same things that we did previously, without him,” Miller said when asked about Allen.

“It’s a very similar philosophy, but it’s good to have him come along. He’s a very good coach and complementary to the defense. We’re going to be really good on defense.”