On The Plains with Izavion Miller: 'Grateful for football'

AUBURN, Ala. – A love affair with football began for a very tall man at a very small age.

Auburn senior offensive lineman Izavion “Too Tall” Miller has found his heart in the gridiron game, and he is grateful for its impact on his life on and off the field. 

“I’ve been playing football since I was 6,” the Memphis native recalled of his introduction to the game. “Some random guy with the Memphis Broncos came up one day to our door and asked if I wanted to play pee-wee football. And I’ve been at it ever since. 

“I also played baseball growing up – third base – but football is my game. In high school is where I got my nickname ‘Too Tall.’ My high school coach, Jerome Griffin, gives everybody a nickname and mine was ‘Too Tall.’ I guess because I am tall, but that was a great player, too,” Miller said, referring to NFL legend Ed “Too Tall” Jones of the Dallas Cowboys.

Miller’s progression in football from Wooddale High in Memphis to Southwest Mississippi Community College to Auburn has been slow and steady, as the results show. 

“Going into juco, I wasn’t even expecting to start when I got there,” Miller recalled of his first season at Southwest Mississippi. “But then the game got real easy and my second year of juco, I started recognizing all the offense. That’s when I thought maybe I could do this full-time at a higher level.”

After earning NJCAA all-region and all-Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) honors, along with preseason All-America recognition, Miller arrived at Auburn before the 2023 season, and earned the starting nod at right tackle for every game last year. 

“I love the game of football,” Miller said. “I love it. I love the physicality – being physical and being free out there on the field. The game is deep in my heart.”

For Miller, a growing love for Auburn and the community that has embraced him on the Plains is also in his heart. 

“Ultimately, my decision to come to Auburn came down to my relationship with my coaches,” he said. “During my recruiting process out of juco, I was originally going to go to Ole Miss with Coach (Jake) Thornton and then he ended up coming here (as Auburn’s offensive line coach).

“It’s been a good fit with Coach Thornton. He’s a great man, he and Coach (Hugh) Freeze. I liked everything about Auburn and decided to come here.

“Coming in, I was just expecting football, but with Coach Freeze, I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more than that. He’s teaching us how to appreciate football and to live without football, to be grateful for it – just be grateful for life. 

“I love the atmosphere at our games,” Miller added. “It gets me hyped. I can’t explain it, but it just feels different, and I’ve played in a lot of stadiums. 

“I love being part of what we call the Auburn Family. People stop me all the time to talk to me if I’m wearing something Auburn. The community’s nice, people are so nice here. It’s a cool place to be.

“I do love Auburn – way more than I would have expected.”

Miller comes from a close family, and they enjoy Auburn, too. 

“I have a pretty big family. They’re very sports minded,” he said. “My grandparents, my mom and my siblings all come to games here. 

“I just love this community. To be here, with great people, in a great community, I love it.”

Miller is chasing more goals than just those in football during his time at Auburn. 

“I’m an interdisciplinary studies major, because it gives me the option to get multiple majors. Mine are leadership and sports communication,” Miller explained.  “After football is done, I want to become a coach. A high school coach is what I would truly like to be. I have had great coaches, and I would like to be that influence for somebody else.”

Miller hopes his influence and productivity help the Tigers to great success this season. 

“We all want to win the natty,” he said. That’s why we play college football – to win the national championship. 

“For myself, I really want to solidify myself and my game here and then get to the league. Playing in the NFL has been my dream since I was 6, and I want to get that done.

“But first things first. We’re expecting big things out of this team.”