AUBURN, Ala. – While this is graduate transfer Dreshun Miller's first year of Auburn football, it's not his first time on the Plains.
An honorable mention 2020 All-Big 12 honoree at West Virginia in his first season competing for the Mountaineers after redshirting in 2019, Miller started all nine games while recording 31 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception.
When his position coach departed, Miller decided to become a graduate transfer after earning his degree from West Virginia, intending to get closer to his home in Atlanta.
"I felt like it was a good time to transfer to a school that could put me in a position to get to the next level," said Miller, who also wanted to play in the nation's most competitive conference.
"It will be great for my family to be able to come to some of the games since Auburn is so much closer," Miller said. "The warm weather down south is way better than snow games in West Virginia."
Growing up in Marietta, Georgia, as a huge SEC football fan, Miller has always been aware of the Auburn Tigers, but it was one of his high school coaches, Auburn great Brent Fullwood, who gave him the proper Auburn introduction.
"Coach had always told me from a while ago that it is a family here and I saw that from all the times he brought me and my teammates to Jordan-Hare as kids," Miller said.
Since first playing football at age 10, Miller never lost his love for the game.
Miller began his college career at Eastern Arizona College, where he caught the eye of coaches while leading his team to the 2018 junior college national championship game.
The defensive MVP of the Salt Lake City Bowl, Miller earned All-League and All-Region honors for the Gila Monsters, while contributing 85 tackles, six tackles for loss and two interceptions over two seasons.
After graduating with his associate's degree in December 2018, he still had three more years remaining to play two more college seasons.
Miller signed with West Virginia, where he impressed on the field with the Mountaineers but also worked hard in the classroom as a multidisciplinary studies major with a minor in communication, earning a spot on the Big 12 Honor Roll.
"I've got an associate's degree and also a bachelor's degree, so I'm currently working in the College of Liberal Arts to gain a second undergrad degree," said Miller, who wants to work with young people after his football career.
"My long-term goal is to have a role where I give back to the community, where I'm helping kids grow and helping them get to college," Miller said. "I want to be a friend and guide and keep them from making mistakes that might cost them opportunities.
"I want to have a role where I help them with the process of growing up and finding their path in life, whether that's through sports, through creativity, through academics – whatever helps them along their journey.
"A lot of people have been those helpers for me along my journey, starting with my mom and my dad and then teammates and friends in all the places I've lived. The people I have met and made friends and family throughout my life are what have made the difference."
Miller admits that it is never easy to join a new program or to come to a new state, but he recognizes that he is getting accustomed to the switch.
"It just takes time to get comfortable in a new place, but I think it is definitely starting to come together, so I am happy about that," said Miller, expressing appreciation for the support of Auburn fans.
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to come play here in Auburn," he said. "My plans are to win as a team, so stay with us through this season's journey. War Eagle!"
Conor Coxwell is a student worker for Auburn Athletics media relations
