Sonny Dykes provides final injury update on Kendre Miller ahead of national championship

TCU running back Kendre Miller will be a true game-time decision ahead of Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship, Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes told ESPN’s Molly McGrath. Miller left last week’s Fiesta Bowl against Michigan with a knee injury, throwing his status for the title game into question.

Dykes told McGrath the plan is to see how Miller does after warm-ups. He’s a key part of the TCU offense this season, leading the team with 1,399 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. Last week, before his injury, Miller totaled 57 yards on eight carries.

“We’ll warm him up and see how he feels,” Dykes said. “If he feels good, we’ll give it a go and see how he does. I love Kendre and what he’s meant to our program. We just want to make sure he’s healthy and can go full-speed.”

Dykes said Miller’s health is going to be the most important factor in the decision. He and the TCU staff won’t rush him onto the field if they think they’re putting his health at risk.

“The biggest thing is a level of comfort from him. I think that’s the biggest thing,” Dykes said. “I know he’s going to want to play. My job’s to take care of him, even though he wants to play and he’s got that adrenaline. We’ll kind of see how he warms up and how he does and how he feels. And then he and I will sit down and we’ll make a decision.”

If Miller can’t go, there’s a sense Emari Demercado can get some looks in the TCU backfield, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Monday. Demercado is the Horned Frogs’ second-leading rusher with 622 yards and six touchdowns this year and had a big day against Michigan with 150 yards and a touchdown after Miller’s injury.

“There’s a prevailing sense of pessimism from TCU that star tailback Kendre Miller is going to have a significant impact on tonight’s game,” Thamel said. “Officially, Kendre Miller is going to be a game-time decision. He plans to warm up. He plans to give to a go with that sprained right MCL. Just two days ago, Miller told me that that right knee was just 50%. Look for a heavy diet of Emari Demercado tonight.

“If Miller can play, it’s unlikely he’s going to be able to show the full burst that allowed him to average 6.2 yards per carry this year.”

On3’s Steve Samra contributed to this report.