Transfers Add ‘Maturity and Wisdom’ to Offensive Line
8/19/2021 4:00:00 PM | Football
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Not only do Jacob Gall and Grant Miller have a wealth of experience under their belts as fifth-year transfers from Buffalo and Vanderbilt, respectively, they also have the versatility to play any of the three interior positions in Baylor's offensive line.
"I played left guard, mostly, but I did play some right guard and a lot of center in practice," said the 6-2, 305-pound Gall, who started all seven games at left guard last year for a 6-1 Buffalo team that beat Marshall in the Camelia Bowl. "I was actually recruited as a center. But, I'm comfortable and I have a lot of reps in all three spots."
Miller, who started all nine of Vanderbilt's game last season at center, said last year's COVID-19 pandemic forced offensive linemen to get repetitions at every spot across the board.
"This is now my fifth year of college football, so I'm used to having to be able to play multiple positions, if needed," the 6-4, 309-pound Miller said. "Even though I started every game at Vanderbilt last year at center, I certainly was playing other positions in practice. Also, in years prior, I had some starts at right guard. I'm really ready to play whatever it is, anywhere on the offensive line, as needed."
That infusion of experience and talent boosted an offensive line that lost three starters from last year's team. First-year offensive line coach Eric Mateos now has eight players who have started at the college level.
"We're just getting better day by day, working on the little things, working on the 1% to get better," Gall said. "Every day, I feel like we're getting a little bit better. I think by the time the games roll around, we're going to be a really good team."
Adding two older guys with a lot of experience, "you're going to get guys with some maturity and wisdom," Miller said.
"I think there's leadership and a level-headed aspect to ones who have played the game so long," he said.
That leadership is also coming from senior left tackle Connor Galvin and Xavier Newman-Johnson, another fifth-year senior who could line up at any of the three interior spots. They are tied for second on the team with 23 career starts apiece.
"Xay, Xavier Newman, has been awesome with me, helping me out so much," Gall said. "Me and him have been working really well together. All the guys are super-welcoming. It's a great room. I love being in there every day with Coach Mateos and the guys."
The chance to work with Mateos and first-year offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, a duo that came from BYU, was a big attraction for both Miller and Gall.
"I wasn't here last year, but I think one of the biggest differences is the energy and charisma that Coach Mateos injects in these guys every single day," Miller said. "I think a lot of it is from just Coach Mateos' coaching style. Leaving in April and then coming back in June and seeing some of the leaps in improvement mentally and physically that a lot of those guys have made, it's impressive."
The son of Fred Miller, a 13-year NFL veteran who was inducted into the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010, Grant Miller said he had a strong desire in high school to play at Baylor "and it ended up working out in this situation."
"Everybody was pretty stoked," said Grant, whose mother, Kim, also graduated from Baylor. "They tried their best not to sway me over here. I'm not sure if that did or did not happen, but I think there was always a small part of my mom that wanted to see me go to her alma mater."
The Bears wrap up another full week of camp with practices on Thursday and Friday and a Saturday scrimmage before classes start Monday.
Baylor will open the season Sept. 4 with a rod game against Texas State in San Marcos, then return home to host Texas Southern Sept. 11 at McLane Stadium. For season, mini-plan and single-game ticket information, go to the 2021 Baylor Football Tickets link.
Baylor Bear Insider
Not only do Jacob Gall and Grant Miller have a wealth of experience under their belts as fifth-year transfers from Buffalo and Vanderbilt, respectively, they also have the versatility to play any of the three interior positions in Baylor's offensive line.
"I played left guard, mostly, but I did play some right guard and a lot of center in practice," said the 6-2, 305-pound Gall, who started all seven games at left guard last year for a 6-1 Buffalo team that beat Marshall in the Camelia Bowl. "I was actually recruited as a center. But, I'm comfortable and I have a lot of reps in all three spots."
Miller, who started all nine of Vanderbilt's game last season at center, said last year's COVID-19 pandemic forced offensive linemen to get repetitions at every spot across the board.
"This is now my fifth year of college football, so I'm used to having to be able to play multiple positions, if needed," the 6-4, 309-pound Miller said. "Even though I started every game at Vanderbilt last year at center, I certainly was playing other positions in practice. Also, in years prior, I had some starts at right guard. I'm really ready to play whatever it is, anywhere on the offensive line, as needed."
That infusion of experience and talent boosted an offensive line that lost three starters from last year's team. First-year offensive line coach Eric Mateos now has eight players who have started at the college level.
"We're just getting better day by day, working on the little things, working on the 1% to get better," Gall said. "Every day, I feel like we're getting a little bit better. I think by the time the games roll around, we're going to be a really good team."
Adding two older guys with a lot of experience, "you're going to get guys with some maturity and wisdom," Miller said.
"I think there's leadership and a level-headed aspect to ones who have played the game so long," he said.
That leadership is also coming from senior left tackle Connor Galvin and Xavier Newman-Johnson, another fifth-year senior who could line up at any of the three interior spots. They are tied for second on the team with 23 career starts apiece.
"Xay, Xavier Newman, has been awesome with me, helping me out so much," Gall said. "Me and him have been working really well together. All the guys are super-welcoming. It's a great room. I love being in there every day with Coach Mateos and the guys."
The chance to work with Mateos and first-year offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, a duo that came from BYU, was a big attraction for both Miller and Gall.
"I wasn't here last year, but I think one of the biggest differences is the energy and charisma that Coach Mateos injects in these guys every single day," Miller said. "I think a lot of it is from just Coach Mateos' coaching style. Leaving in April and then coming back in June and seeing some of the leaps in improvement mentally and physically that a lot of those guys have made, it's impressive."
The son of Fred Miller, a 13-year NFL veteran who was inducted into the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010, Grant Miller said he had a strong desire in high school to play at Baylor "and it ended up working out in this situation."
"Everybody was pretty stoked," said Grant, whose mother, Kim, also graduated from Baylor. "They tried their best not to sway me over here. I'm not sure if that did or did not happen, but I think there was always a small part of my mom that wanted to see me go to her alma mater."
The Bears wrap up another full week of camp with practices on Thursday and Friday and a Saturday scrimmage before classes start Monday.
Baylor will open the season Sept. 4 with a rod game against Texas State in San Marcos, then return home to host Texas Southern Sept. 11 at McLane Stadium. For season, mini-plan and single-game ticket information, go to the 2021 Baylor Football Tickets link.
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