Texas WR pledge Damion Miller is "70 percent" committed

COPPELL, Texas -- As with Bullard tight end Major Tennison, a visit to Austin for the Texas Longhorns Junior Day in late February was an important visit, but not enough to convince Tyler John Tyler wide receiver Damion Miller to shut down his recruiting process.

In an interview with Burnt Orange Nation at the Dallas The Opening Regional camp on Sunday, Miller put his commitment strength at 70 percent, indicating that he's still open to the process.

However, he did like what he heard on that Junior Day visit.

"What stood out to me was the new offensive coordinator [Sterlin Gilbert] and seeing the plays that they ran at his previous school," Miller said. "I see how the new offensive plan is going to work and they're going to be throwing the ball deep a lot this year. They're going to run the ball regardless, but they're also going to throw the ball more this year."

When asked whether the visit helped strengthen his recruitment, Miller replied that it did.

"it strengthened it a lot because all receivers want to catch balls and make plays."

After the departure of wide receivers coach Jay Norvell to Arizona State as a result of his demotion from play-calling duties, the trip to Austin also afforded Miller the chance to become more familiar with new position coach Charlie Williams, who told the 6'1, 205-pound receiver that he's an important piece of a class and a good fit for Gilbert's new offense. Not only that, but Williams said that Miller is their top target at wide receiver in the 2017 class.

Miller originally committed to the Longhorns late last June, less than two weeks after picking up his Texas offer following an impressive performance at a summer camp in Austin. The decision was in large part due to his relationship with East Texas native Jeff Traylor, the tight ends coach for the 'Horns.

"Since he's from East Texas, we're both on the same page and know how East Texas players can play," Miller said. "We got real close talking every day on Twitter and every time he comes back home, he comes through the school."

Of course, other schools haven't given up the pursuit of the consensus four-star prospect, who is rated as the No. 23 wide receiver nationally in the 247Sports Composite rankings. No program is coming after Miller harder than Texas A&M, a school he visited for a Junior Day at the end of January.

"Texas A&M has a good offense and I could see myself anywhere, but at Texas A&M I feel like we would all be close, just because of everyone who is committed to A&M," he said.

Miller also plans on taking a visit to Ole Miss in early April, so the Rebels are also a program in contention for his services.

As for what it another school would have to do for Miller to flip his commitment, he wasn't sure, but he did say that he's looking at the depth charts of the schools recruiting him because he would like to start as a freshman.

Since he is still open to those SEC schools, the Longhorns will have to keep recruiting Miller like he's uncommitted to keep him in the 2017 class. Fortunately for Traylor and Williams, they will have a chance to do that in person in the near future, as Miller plans on attending the Orange-White game on April 16, at which point he'll have a chance to see Gilbert's new offense in action.