Friday Feature #5: Christen Miller

Georgia takes on Ole Miss today (8:30 pm GMT) in a Top-10 matchup on a stacked slate of college football. The Bulldogs have some work to do to get back into the SEC race after that loss in Week 5 to Alabama, but they have a chance to make it 3 SEC wins in a row, following wins over Kentucky and Auburn. In that most recent win at Jordan-Hare, one player stood out for me on defense, and that was Redshirt Junior D-lineman Christen Miller. Check out my detailed scouting report on Miller below:

Background & Measurables

Name: Christen Miller

Year: Redshirt Junior

Size: 6’4, 310 pounds

Position/Scheme Fit: Nose Tackle in a 3-4 front

Former 4-star recruit out of Ellenwood, Georgia. He committed to the Bulldogs after taking visits with Miami and Oregon. He saw action in a reserve role in 2022 and 2023, playing in 17 games total with 14 tackles, including 13 solo stops and 4 TFLs during that time.

Finally getting a chance to start in 2024, he had 3.5 TFLs among his 27 total tackles, while also recording 1.5 sacks. He notched a career-high five tackles with one pass breakup and QB pressure in the College Football Playoff Allstate Sugar Bowl Quarterfinal loss against Notre Dame.

Before the 2025 season, he was named Preseason All-SEC First Team by SEC Media and SEC Coaches and Second Team by Athlon and Pick Six Previews. He also appeared on preseason watch lists for the Outland Trophy, Bednarik Award and Senior Bowl Top 300. So far in 2025, he has flashed immense potential against the run with his best showing this past week at Auburn.

Detailed Scouting Report

Strengths

1. Good power in his hands. Able to stun offensive linemen with his punch and move them off their technique. Active hands on the majority of his reps, making him a handful to handle both inside and outside.

2. Works back to the ball well against the run. Disengages from blocks effectively and shows good instincts to anticipate running plays and maintain gap integrity.

3. Has plenty of positional versatility despite his inside-only size profile. Lines up in the A or B gap effectively and can work to the outside over tackle in obvious passing downs to force QB pressures.

4. Mixes really good strength and football IQ. Should test well at the Combine and is an effective power player with some nuance to his game. He makes adjustments in-game to how blockers are playing him, and really showed out vs Auburn this past week.

Development Points

1. Missed some time in 2024 with a shoulder injury and during Spring camp, but seems to have returned and played quite well. Still, at his size, injuries mounting up is always a concern, so one to watch.

2. Lacks the real explosion to be a consistent force in the passing game. When deployed inside, he is a little slow to get into his moves, giving the QB too much time to get through his reads or to sidestep colour.

3. Looks to lack a little length to his game. Struggled a bit taking on Kadyn Proctor against Alabama, as Proctor's long arms were able to keep Miller off balance, even pushing him to the ground on multiple reps.

4. Don't know that he is the most fluid athlete in terms of footwork and change of direction. Can be a bit stiff in his movement and awkward when chasing down runners on the backside.

Conclusion

Miller is a strong interior defensive lineman, who plays well against the run with some pass rush upside. You don't see enough in the passing game to vault him into the upper echelons of the class, but he has the versatility, strength and hand usage NFL scouts cover in a 3-4 Nose or bigger 4-tech. He can quicken up his process at times, and needs to show he can stay healthy consistently, but Miller shouldf find himself in the mix on Day 2 next April.

Grade: 6.5/9.0 (2nd-3rd round grade)

Player Comp: T.J. Sanders

Team Fits: Chargers, Ravens, Falcons