Why "Too Tall" Miller is one of Auburn's most valuable players
The Tigers are going to need reliable offensive linemen behind their starting five. Who better than a two-year starter to take on that role?
AUBURN — Pop quiz: When was the last time Auburn has had the same five offensive linemen start every single regular season game in a year?
Answer: There’s a chance it’s never happened.
Auburn’s team website has game-by-game participation charts dating back to 1996. For the years leading up to 2003, though, there are several games each season where there are no starters listed at all, just participants. The full starter data starts in 2004.
After going back all the way to that undefeated 2004 season, it appears that the Tigers haven’t had a single campaign in which their preferred starting offensive line in the season opener made it all the way through the Iron Bowl together.
Here are how many different offensive line starters Auburn used in each season from 2004 to 2024:
2004: 6
2005: 9
2006: 7
2007: 7
2008: 6
2009: 6
2010: 6
2011: 6
2012: 7
2013: 6
2014: 7
2015: 7
2016: 6
2017: 7
2018: 6
2019: 7
2020: 8
2021: 9
2022: 7
2023: 6
2024: 7
Under Hugh Freeze, Auburn started six different linemen in the 2023 season: Dillon Wade, Gunner Britton, Izavion “Too Tall” Miller, Kam Stutts, Connor Lew and Avery Jones. Lew was thrust into a starting role at center, as a true freshman, when Jones went down with injury. Additionally, Jeremiah Wright and Jaden Muskrat didn’t start a game but played 330 and 220 snaps, respectively.
In the 2024 season, Wade, Lew and Wright started every game. Miller missed the New Mexico State game due to injury. The remaining starts were split between Bradyn Joiner, Percy Lewis and Tyler Johnson. Wade played three different positions as the Tigers tried other left tackle options first.
As the above list shows, even the best of seasons for Auburn football have required quality depth along the offensive line. In 2004, Steven Ross had to start two midseason games in the place of center Jeremy Ingle. In 2010, Brandon Mosley had to replace A.J. Greene after three games due to a season-ending ankle injury. In 2013, Avery Young played through injury to replace Patrick Miller.
Then, in 2017, Braden Smith and Austin Golson were the only Tigers to start every game on what was a stellar offensive line. Casey Dunn, Darius James, Prince Tega Wanogho, Marquel Harrell and Mike Horton all started at different points that year.
A team can feel great about its starting offensive line heading into a season. But it’s virtually impossible to get through the whole campaign without having to start someone else at some point. Offensive line is a brutal position, requiring players to slam into opponents on every single snap, regardless of where the ball is going.
And that’s why it’s important that Auburn feels like it has a quality “sixth man” on the offensive line heading into a make-or-break 2025 season.
In fact, he’s been mentioned twice already: Miller, who started almost every single game for Auburn over the last two seasons.
“I want to be clear on this: We think we have six starters,” offensive line coach Jake Thornton said Monday. “We view Too Tall as a starter. We view him as a guy that can start a game and go in and play.”