Alabama Class of 2016 Commitment Miller Forristall Proving to be a Natural at Tight End

Written by Ryan Wright

Being a fan of football it is hard not to be impressed with Cartersville High School tight end Miller Forristall. He is an athlete in every sense of the word and the adjective natural can very easily be thrown his way when summing up his high school career to date.

The Hurricanes had an exceptional season in 2014 finishing 12-2 making a semifinals run into the Georgia high school playoffs. When the season started two guys were splitting time under center, freshman Trevor Lawrence and junior Miller Forristall. In Game 2 of Cartersville’s season Forristall was knocked out of the game in the third series after putting his team up 14-0. A new script started to turn for both Lawrence and Forristall at that point. The Hurricanes would lose Game 3 to North Cobb 27-26 but a new direction for the team was emerging.

By Game 5, a contest against Heritage, the future in the huddle was with Lawrence prompting a move for Forristall to tight end. This is the point in time where pride can pull a person down potentially destroying not only the individual but could also splinter the fabric of any group sport, but this is not the makeup of Forristall.

Head coach Joey King sat Forristall down with a game plan moving forward that would quickly benefit the Hurricanes, King, and Forristall, and one day soon the Alabama Crimson Tide.

King moved his former 6’5”, 215 pound, quarterback to tight end, more of a hybrid tight end lining up with his hand in the ground but also in the slot and on the outside. The move, in another word, was brilliant. In nine games Forristall posted a stat line of 600 receiving yards on 30 catches with eight touchdowns. The move also proved fruitful under center where Lawrence threw for over 3,500 yards with 26 touchdowns against seven picks.

Forristall, proving to be a natural, was more than just a big lumbering mass running down the field with shoulder pads and a helmet on. Showing soft hands and athletic abilities with the ball in his possession gave the appearance of a seasoned veteran working opposing Georgia high school defenses by season’s end. Adjusting to the ball behind him, going across the middle, finding holes in the defense, and even tippy-toe sideline catches were just a few of the kind of highlight plays he turned in during the second half of the season. He even got after it blocking in the run game showing a willingness to do whatever it takes for the team to succeed.

Word got out about Forristall’s abilities and colleges started taking notice. When spring ball rolled around recruiters started showing up at Cartersville’s practices looking for signs of growth behind a great pair of hands. The proof to the outside world can be summed up with offers from Miami, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State, Cincinnati, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Iowa, Indiana, Western Kentucky, Central Florida, Cal, and Alabama just to name a few.

On June 13, Forristall verbally committed to the Crimson Tide marking a drastic eight month swing in fortunes for rising Class of 2016 star.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with Miller to go over his 2014 season, I got a preview of things to come with the Hurricanes in 2015, some insight on how his participation at Nike’s The Opening went, and talked a little bit about his recruiting process to date.

Interview
Miller, Cartersville had a great season last year posting a 12-2 record. Other than the loss to 27-26 North Cobb and the semifinals loss to Buford (27-3) you guys essentially blew everyone else out of the water.

“That North Cobb game was a – we went up 14-0. I started that game at quarterback and played the first two series. On the third series I got knocked out, I got hurt. Trevor came in and we lost by one. We should have blown them out.”

You went through a lot of changes during the season, alternating series and then making the full time switch to tight end, and a deep run into the playoffs. Looking back what did you learn from the 2014 season?

“Looking back now, just being patient. It’s God’s plan, he knows what he’s doing. Even though at that time it didn’t always feel like the right move I just had faith that everything would work out.”

How did the move from quarterback to tight end happen?

“Coach came to me and said you can split series for the rest of the year and next year you can try to beat him (Lawrence) out but I don’t think you’ll be able to or you can play tight end. I think you have a higher ceiling there. I was like you know what, let’s do it. If we’ll be better as a team than let’s do it. At that time it was difficult but I got over it. It’s what’s best for the team.”

And the rest as they say is history. Now you’ll be playing tight end for Alabama in 2016.

“Yeah, and I just got back from The Opening. That was really cool.”

I want to ask you about The Opening in a minute but I want to get an idea how Cartersville looks going into the 2015 season first.

“We’re going to be an offensive juggernaut. We’ve got a Division-I running back (Tiamon Pennymon), three Division-I receivers, and an offensive line that will only get better. We’re going to put up a lot of numbers and points. Our defense is going to be fast and physical. Hopefully we’ll have another run to the state title.”

What have you been working on in the offseason to prepare for your senior year?

“I’ve been trying to put on weight, working my feet, and doing a lot of technique work. A lot about playing tight end is reps, reps, and reps. It’s all about working to perfect your craft. That’s something I’ve been working on a lot.”

What are your personal goals for the 2015 football season?

“I want to start the season at 225, that’s a weight goal. I want to have over 1,000 yards receiving and 10 plus touchdowns, at least.”

You didn’t see it coming but your role changed last year, will your role change this year compared to 2014? Will you play any other positions?

“Yeah, I’m actually a starting outside linebacker right now.”

Did you play any linebacker last year?

“No sir, I just started playing during spring ball.”

Do you like playing linebacker?

“I do. I like it. It’s different but I’m enjoying it.”

You have double-digit offers and the recruiting process is still early for you. Going to Alabama seems like a no-brainer but regardless, what lead you to commit to Alabama this early in the process?

“No. 1, I’ll be an early enrollee. I wanted to get it done before the season rolls around. No. 2, I always said last year and when my dad started asking me, “What’s going to make you want to go somewhere for college? I said, “I want to play at the highest level and the best level of football that I can. I never thought I’d get to play at a SEC school. When I received the offer from Alabama – that’s a no-brainer. That’s the biggest and best you can get. When I talked to my coach he put his head down and then looked at me and said, “Work everyday.” That’s Alabama.”

You’re new at the tight end position but when college coaches called you and started talking about your playing abilities what did they say they liked about you game?

“I had college coaches come watch spring ball, that’s when I started getting a lot of offers. They liked that I was really long and athletic. They said what you’ve done in six months is ridiculous as far as growth at the position. They started projecting what I will be in a couple of years. That was a lot of that.”

Are you taking any official visits during your senior year other than one to Alabama?

“Probably not, I’ll probably just take my official to Alabama and then try to get there as much as I can.”

Have you started trying to recruiting other players to join you at Alabama?

“Yes sir, just a couple. When I was at Oregon I talked to a couple of kids. I haven’t been like recruiting-recruiting kids.”

You’ve mentioned The Opening a couple of times. How was that experience for you?

“It was fantastic. It was surreal when I was there. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and you don’t get to play against kids like that all the time. It was great.”

Which 7×7 team were you on?

“I was on Alpha Pro. I think there were five or six Alabama commits on the team. That was really cool.”

Shyheim Carter (CB Kentwood, LA), Najee Harris (RB Antioch, CA) – he’s 2017 but he was also on our team, the Hulk (DT Kendell Jones – Killeen, TX) was on our team, Jaquan Yulee (LB Chesapeake, VA) and Raekwon Davis (DT Meridian, MS).”

I have to ask, what is Kendall Jones like when you’re just hanging around?

“He’s funny. He has a big personality, he’s funny. He’s a big guy!”

The Opening is a great learning tool for all the kids that attend. You’re exposed to top talent and a lot of press exposure all at once. What did you learn from that experience?

“You get out there and every time you line up you against these kids you have to bring everything you got or you’re going to be put on your butt. All the media that was there was really crazy. The amount of talent that was there was kind of overwhelming. It was a lot of fun.”

Did you attend any college camps this summer?

“I did. I went to Duke, Alabama, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Georgia.”

When you attended these other camps, and before you committed to Alabama, did any of the other schools impress you while camping?

“Yeah, Duke’s campus is really nice. I appreciate what they are doing there. I think they are an up and coming program. Mississippi State was really nice. Vanderbilt, I think is going to be a good program going forward. They have a good head coach (Derek Mason). I like him a lot.”

Are there any NFL players you like watching play so you can learn more about the tight end position?

“I like watching Tony Gonzalez, even before I started playing tight end. Everything was clean and crisp. He did everything the right way. He was patient with his routes and he had great hands. I liked watching him. (Rob) Gronkowski (New England Patriots) is always fun to watch.”

Who has made the biggest impact on your football career?

“Definitely my dad (Shawn), he’s been the one to push me to do this or that helping me along. He’s been my biggest supporter.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“Being able to compete, I love to compete. That’s one thing I love about the game because it’s such a competitive sport.”

 

Photo credit: 247sports.com; Miller hauls in a pass during a football camp.
Photo credit: scout.com; Miller Forristall.
Photo credit: Miller Forristall; Miller with Alabama head coach Nick Saban.