[cowchips]

Who Is Lonyae Miller?

By Cowchips,
CP Staff Writer

School: Fresno State
Position: RB
Class: Senior
Year turned pro: 2010
Hometown: Fontana, CA
Date of Birth: 04/29/89
Height: 5'11 1/2"
Weight: 220
Bench Press: 26
Vertical Jump: 36.5"
Forty Time: 4.52

For the benefit of those who've never heard of Lonyae Miller before his journey to Valley Ranch, there's a good reason for that. He played behind a fellow by the name of Ryan Matthews, a RB who just so happened to be the leading rusher in the NCAA in 2010. That being the case, Miller's college action was understandably limited.

Lacking a notable college resume, it was surely no big surprise that he would eventually become an undrafted free agent, signing with the Dallas Cowboys shortly following April's 2010 NFL Draft.

When given the chance, Miller finally ended his senior season averaging 6.8 yards per attempt, finishing that same season with 812 yards and seven TDs. He eventually topped that off with a very fine showing in the Senior Bowl, averaging over 5 yds. per carry and leaving behind a positive impression.

He has proven to be an exceptional and instinctive runner with both speed and power, having the ability to escape through the narrowest of openings. Lonyae also demonstrates good hands and receiving skills, at times, despite being tightly covered. He has also been described as being highly disciplined.

If there's a chink in his armor, it would be his shortcoming in the area of pass blocking, having displayed difficulty against onrushing LBs in the Senior Bowl, where he showed a tendency to hold excessively. His lack of extensive experience is theorized by some to be a possible factor there. There's decidedly little doubt Cowboys' RB coach, Skip Peete, will make it his mission to school Miller in his pass blocking technique to hone that skill in him during his stay at Valley Ranch.

In recent OTA's, Lonyae has caught the eye of his coaches, as well as Owner/GM Jerry Jones, who has publicly awarded him praise regarding what's been seen of his performances in practice.

Barring an extended injury to one of the Dallas running backs prior to the regular season, Miller is currently being considered a likely candidate to ultimately spend some time on the practice squad during the 2010 season.