One of the top wide receivers in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association last season didn't get a single vote for all-conference honors.

UNO coach Pat Behrns wouldn't have wanted it any other way. In fact, Behrns prevented it by not nominating Brian Miller.

“I'm sure he would have gotten some votes, but I don't think he was worthy of it,” Behrns said. “I told him that. To me, an all-conference person is special. He wasn't yet, but hopefully he will be.”

Miller, a 6-foot-3, 222-pound sophomore from Kansas City, Mo., caught 45 passes for 700 yards and three touchdowns last season to tie for third among league wide receivers in receptions and fifth in yards per game. He compared more than favorably in a head-to-head matchup with Northwest Missouri State's Jake Soy, who at season's end was named Division II's top wide receiver: Miller caught eight passes for 161 yards and a touchdown, Soy had three for 59 and a score.

Miller was available for only 10 of UNO's 12 games, and played hurt in several games.

“I was a little disappointed to hear him say it, but I understood where he was coming from,” Miller said. “I agreed with what he had to say. That made me work that much harder, because I know those honors won't just be given to me.”

Miller caught six passes for 71 yards Saturday in UNO's 32-29 season-opening loss to the University of Nebraska at Kearney and is looking for bigger and better things as the Mavs host Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Injures held down his numbers last season, but Behrns and Miller agree that they also touched upon the underlying reason why Miller wasn't ready for All-MIAA. Miller hadn't put in the offseason work to prepare for the season.

“The first time he really got hit, he crumbled,” Behrns said. “You may have physical problems, but you're going to minimize them by being stronger.”

Miller missed UNO's second and third games of the season with a separated shoulder. The second game was a loss to UNK, when Miller's playmaking ability could have provided a lift to an offense that had yet to hit its stride.

After big games against Northwest and Missouri Southern (7 receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown), Miller had one other big game, catching six passes for 70 yards against Central Missouri. He played in pain the week before, in a loss at Fort Hays State.

“I realized last year when I got hurt that I hadn't worked hard enough last summer,” Miller said. “I wanted to do everything I could to prevent that from happening again.”

Miller sat out spring practice after shoulder surgery and came back tougher both physically and mentally. Behrns said Miller also has matured as a person.

“I've watched a lot more film, and I know what I'm doing on every single play,” Miller said. “Last year I was a little hazy on some of the stuff, but this year I've got everything down so I know what to do on everything that's called.”

Miller and Behrns aren't always on the same page. Behrns said early in camp that Miller had shown unexpected toughness by continuing to try to push through drills in the heat despite getting sick. But late in camp, Behrns kicked Miller and several others out of practice once for not hustling. Behrns found out later that Miller had a groin injury and hadn't told anyone.

“I'm expecting big things from Brian,” said Mike Higgins, UNO's All-American tight end. “He had a fantastic summer. He's in great shape. I told him last year that he had the potential to be one of the best receivers that UNO has ever seen.”

Primarily a running team for most of the past 15 years, UNO hasn't had a receiver produce a freshman season like Miller's in a long time.

And any time tall, athletic receivers come into the conversation, the comparisons at UNO are made with Ryan Krause and Chris Denney, who were dominant in Division II. Krause played three NFL seasons as a tight end, while Denney's NFL opportunities were limited because of injuries.

Like Krause and Denney, Miller has shown big-play ability. But those two were uncanny at making difficult catches in traffic.

“That's a tough one,” Behrns said, when asked if Miller could one day be considered an equal to those two. “But he'd fit into that mold if he continues to improve. The difference with them is that they did it for so long (as four-year regulars). But there are some similarities.”

Contact the writer:

444-1027, rob.white@owh.com

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