He was already set to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams, more than two days early.
Can you blame rookie running back Dante Miller, known to everyone as “Turbo,” for his unbridled enthusiasm ahead of the Giants’ preseason opener against the Lions on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium?
“Wow, I’m excited already,” Miller said late Tuesday morning, just after coming off the practice field. “I’m blessed to have the opportunity to do this. [for] We’re just lucky that he’s here after losing his eligibility a year ago and not being able to play.”
In fact, given the twists and turns Miller took to get to this point, it was impossible for him to have predicted he would end up playing for the Giants.
He played four years at Ivy League school Columbia University, with one season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He transferred to the University of South Carolina thinking he still had two years of eligibility remaining, but after a series of misunderstandings, the NCAA ruled otherwise and he ended up playing just six games for South Carolina in 2022 and sitting out 2023.
The Giants signed the 5-foot-9, 200-pound Miller after he was ineligible to enter the 2024 NFL Draft. Miller is hoping to find a spot in a backfield that features veteran starter Devin Singletary and a host of inexperienced players behind him.
Those summer games are for promising players like Miller, who will likely play, as will second-year player Eric Gray and rookie fifth-round pick Tyrone Tracy.
Miller lived up to his nickname in his first NFL training camp. He’s fast, running a 4.27 second 40-yard dash. But will he make the Giants?
“It’s crazy,” Miller said. “My family is from Brooklyn and they were Giants fans. When I was growing up, they always talked about the Giants. It’s unbelievable to be in this situation. It’s my first NFL game. I don’t take this lightly.”
Miller, 25, is a possibility for a spot on the roster or practice squad and showed two flashes of potential during practice sessions with the Lions, including an inside run up the middle on Monday that would have resulted in a touchdown and set the Giants sideline ablaze.
On Tuesday, Miller showed his instincts with a sharp cut to his left. He sprinted down the sideline and into the end zone, only to end up going out of bounds on the way there.
“But when I walked out on the field, I was 30 yards down the field,” Miller said with a smile. “I’m not really worried about that. I’m just going to go out there and make a play.”
Gray has some stats on his NFL resume (17 rushing attempts in 2023) and Tracy is a former wide receiver, so he has the upside as a pass-catching player. “Turbo” has that explosiveness that he believes can already translate to the major leagues.
“I have elite speed, that’s going to be one of my strengths,” Miller said. “I’m lucky to have that, I’m very fortunate to be able to go out there and show it off.”
For now, the front office is avoiding signing a veteran running back to complement Singletary.
“These young guys have performed well when asked, and this will be an important preseason for all of them,” said coach Brian Daboll, before defining what he wants to see next: “Playing the running back position at the highest level possible and the defense, running, routes, everything that comes with that – everything it takes to be a capable running back in this league.”
This preseason opener will likely be more for Miller and other young players trying to lock down spots than for the established players preparing for the big day.
Rookie wide receiver Malik Neighbors has been a sensation in training camp, dominating the Lions over two days of joint practice.
He’s had a busy schedule this week but is likely to play little to nothing in this game.
Daniel Jones, returning from reconstructive knee surgery, stayed in shape all summer, participating in every practice with the starting offense and not hesitating to get out of the pocket and make a run when the play broke down.
After Jones’ performances against the Lions for the second straight day, Daboll probably decided well enough not to put the quarterback on the field for the first preseason game.
A year ago, the Giants held two joint practices with the Lions in Allen Park, Mich., before Daboll didn’t field his entire starting lineup in preseason games. Neighbors is a first-year player who is already a starter.
Daboll will take over the responsibilities at the helm of the offense that have been held by offensive coordinator Mike Kafka for the past two seasons.
On some of those plays, Miller is designated as the running back, receiving the handoff and running with the ball.
“I just want to show I have a good grasp of the playbook,” Miller said, “and go out there and do my best.”
