Blake Miller, OT Clemson: 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Miller was a four-star recruit from Strongsville High School in Strongsville, Ohio in the class of 2022

Clemson right tackle Blake Miller was thrown into the fire as a freshman but has emerged as a legitimate prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft. He still needs another year of strong development to warrant a top 100 grade.

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Blake Miller, OT Clemson: 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior right tackle from Strongsville, Ohio

Background: Miller was a four-star recruit from Strongsville High School in Strongsville, Ohio in the class of 2022. He was the No. 208 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 124 for Rivals, and No. 173 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 257th in the nation with an 81 grade out of 100. Miller never missed a game in high school. He became Strongsville’s starting left tackle in his fourth game as a freshman and remained at the position throughout his high school career. Miller didn’t allow a sack as a junior or senior and didn’t miss a play in 2021. He also played nose tackle on defense as a freshman and started both ways as a senior. Miller was a First Team All-Ohio Division 1, First Team All-Region, and First Team All-District selection in 2020 and 2021. He was a Greater Cleveland Conference All-Academic selection four times. Miller also ran track for Strongsville in 2020 and won an OAC State Championship in wrestling in his youth. He still holds many of the high school’s weight room records. Miller was born on Feb. 25, 2004.

Injuries & Off-Field: N/A

Awards: 2022 Freshman All-American (FWAA, PFF), 2023 Third Team All-ACC

Pros: Cut penalties from ten to six from 2022 to 2023, high school experience at left tackle, room on his frame to add mass, quick and nimble feet, impressive lateral mover, agility to cut off wide-alignment rushers, drives defenders up and around the pocket, agility saves him with ability to redirect on some plays, chest doesn’t extend over knees frequently, mixes in jump sets with his vertical set, good grip strength, replaces hands quickly, block framing is improving significantly, punch power dampens pass rush attempts, flashes of a mean streak in pass pro, Patrick Payton couldn’t convert speed to power on him (2023), prioritizes the right threat when facing two pass rushers, movement skills to lead block on screens or pull on gap runs, creates impactful movement on combo blocks, keeps legs driving in the run game

Cons: Committed 16 penalties over the past two years, frequent false starter, lean throughout frame, length appears good but not great, inconsistent first step, first step lacks explosiveness, hands arrive low and late, hands are frequently swiped, inconsistent hand timing and usage when initiating contact in pass pro, allows defenders into his frame, pulled forward and off balance, inconsistent anchor, anchor is light and leads to him being pulled or yanked all over the place, vulnerable to push-pull-swim, instances of poor pad level in pass pro, footwork breaks down at the top of the arc, struggles vs. B-gap counters, late to identify stunts, needs to show more fire in the run game, play strength is mediocre in the run game, struggles to sustain blocks in the run game, doesn’t generate a ton of displacement on down blocks, lackluster push in short-yardage situations, poor angles to second level blocks, ends up on the ground too much in the run game

Overview: Miller cut down on his penalties from 2022 to 2023 but still drew six flags this past season. He must eliminate silly penalties, like false starts, from his game. Miller hasn’t played left tackle at Clemson, but he has experience in the role dating back to high school. The Ohio native is lean throughout his frame with plenty of room to add mass. His build allows him to have quick and nimble feet that make him an impressive lateral mover. He has the agility to cut off wide-alignment rushers and drive defenders up and around the pocket. That agility also allows him to redirect and mirror defenders on some plays. Miller is still late to identify stunts and struggles tremendously with B-gap counters. His pad level gets too high at times, but he generally maintains good posture in his pass sets and avoids leaning on defenders. Miller mixes in jump sets with his vertical sets to keep defenders guessing. He displays good grip strength and replaces his hands quickly when they’re swatted or swiped. His block framing improved by leaps and bounds in his sophomore season. Miller doesn’t have elite power in his hands, but he packs a punch to dampen pass rush attempts. The junior has a mean streak that comes and goes in pass protection. He occasionally plays through the whistle and displays good upper body aggression. Miller’s anchor is inconsistent at best. Strong defenders pull or yank him out of his stance, making him vulnerable to push-pull-swim combinations. However, Miller prevented Florida State’s Patrick Payton from converting speed to power against him in 2023 and has the room to physically develop a better base. The young tackle is also showing mental development. In 2023, he began prioritizing the most imminent threat in pass protection when faced with multiple rushers. Miller has upside, but there are some physical question marks. His arm length appears passable but not great. Even at his size, his first step is inconsistent and lacks explosiveness. Miller’s hands arrive low and late, allowing defenders to work into his pads. His timing and usage when initiating contact in pass protection need significant work as he often limits his own effectiveness or makes his hands easy to swipe. The All-ACC selection’s footwork becomes messy the further he has to carry a pass rusher upfield. He is a good mover in the run game and can lead block on screens or gap runs. Unfortunately, his play strength is a significant limiting factor. He struggles to sustain blocks in the run game and doesn’t create much displacement on one-on-one blocks. His fire, which is very noticeable in pass protection, is harder to find in the run game. He takes poor angles to second level blocks and ends up on the ground too often.

Overall, Miller is trending in the right direction but still lacks the power and consistency to project as an NFL starter. Another productive offseason and season with more than 900 offensive snaps could boost him into a new tier as a prospect, but that requires a lot of projecting. Miller’s mobility and nimbleness are promising, but his power and hand usage need significant work.

Role & Scheme Fit: Developing right tackle in an outside zone or gap scheme

Round Projection: Fourth Round

Size: 6'6", 310 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 04-04-24