TCU RB Miller (MCL sprain) 50-50 for title game
LOS ANGELES– TCU beginning running back Kendre Miller informed ESPN on Saturday that he has actually a sprained MCL in his best knee, which is about half-healed, and is offering him a 50-50 possibility to play Monday versus Georgia in the College Football Playoff National Championship Video Game at Sofi Arena (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Miller, who said he was wearing a brace on his knee under his black sweatpants at media day, prepares to wear and go through warmups.
“Tomorrow definitely is going to be pretty much the choosing element if I can go or not, however I’m going to definitely try,” stated Miller, who leads the Horned Frogs in hurrying with 1,399 lawns. “It’s sort of like a 50-50, however I’ll most certainly fit up in any case and try.”
Miller stated group medical professionals have left his playing status as much as him, and they have seen his MRI and how loose the knee is. Miller said it continues to enhance every day, but nobody is going to force him to play if it’s wrong.2 Related
“If it’s not stabilized, I would not feel comfortable going out there and playing,” Miller said. “That’s kind of why I didn’t play in the 2nd half of Michigan. I attempted.”
Miller had 57 backyards on 8 carries in the Vrbo Feast Bowl versus the Wolverines before he was injured. He is the only player in Big 12 history to tape-record a rushing goal in 13 games in a season and has actually amounted to 17 hurrying goals, fourth-most in a season in TCU history and the most because LaDainian Tomlinson in 2000.
TCU coach Sonny Dykes said the personnel wanted to offer Miller time to rest and recuperate. The running back awakened Friday “a little sore” but feels better Saturday.
“I believe in the next 24 hours we’ll have to make a determination or have a pretty good idea of what he’s going to be able to do going into the game Monday,” Dykes said. “We’re optimistic he’s going to be able to play. We’ll see how he feels today. Today is going to be important. The most significant thing clearly is he’s positive and feels great about it.”
When Miller was hurt, the Frogs turned to Emari Demercado, who had a career-high 150 rushing yards against Michigan, the most enabled to a single rush by the Wolverines this season.
“When Kendre goes down, you see Emari come in, and those men, we leaned on them,” quarterback Max Duggan, a Heisman finalist, stated of his offensive linemen. “They have kind of a chip on their shoulder to help us and lead us in all of our games. They have an understanding of the kind of D-linemen we’re breaking and linebackers, all that, however they’re taking a terrific frame of mind of they wish to be as hard as they can.”
Kendre Miller states the MCL sprain in his right knee kept him out of the 2nd half of the Horned Frogs’ CFP semifinal win over Michigan. Tim Heitman/USA Today Sports
Dykes said establishing a running game against Georgia is vital. The Bulldogs’ defense is connected for No. 2 in the nation in rushing goals enabled and second in the FBS in runs over 10 backyards allowed. The Bulldogs have not enabled a rushing touchdown of 10 backyards or more, the only team to do that this season.
“That’s the thing you need to be able to do,” Dykes said. “If not, you’re playing right into their hands. … I’m not stating you need to hurry for 300 lawns, however you need to consistently run the ball and avoid of third-and-long scenarios.”
Demercado, a native of Inglewood, California, the site of this year’s national championship game, had the second 100-yard game of his career in the CFP semifinals and posted his 6th hurrying touchdown. He had an overall of 4 rushing ratings in his very first 4 seasons at TCU. Demercado’s 622 rushing backyards and 5.8 yards per carry are both profession highs.
“All of our running backs can do a great deal of the exact same work,” TCU offending lineman Steve Avila said.” [Demercado] is a ruffian and likes to get those backyards, so we’ll do our finest to make those holes for him.”
Miller ranks first nationally among active Power 5 players with 6.7 yards per bring in his profession. He stated his household was flying in for the game Saturday.
“It’s difficult mentally to welcome and take it all in, however I’m not going to let my feelings get in the way of my teammates,” Miller said. “I’m going to keep Emari calm and the rest of the guys on the sideline if I don’t play and exist to support them.”
“I wish to play, however what’s right for me is the question. I’ve been fighting everything week, because I know what’s right for me, however it’s simply being there for my team. They’re comprehending. We have trust in Emari and what he needs to do, however I’m going to be there for them no matter what.”
ESPN’s Pete Thamel added to this report.