Dean Miller on being the underdog, new players at defensive end
Kansas defensive end Dean Miller has been an underdog all his life. When he found out he was left off the All-Big 12 football team and the Jayhawks were picked to finish in the middle of the pack, it did not phase him.
The list was released as Miller was heading to Dallas to represent Kansas at the Big 12 Media Days. After finishing second team last year he was listed on a few publications but absent from the official Big 12 team.
“Obviously you want to see your name on that list, but at the end of the day, you’re going to see what I do this season,” Miller said. “And wherever I end up is where I end up. At that point, the preseason, all this talk, suddenly doesn’t matter as much.”
His attitude was the same for the team being picked to finish anywhere from 7-10 in the preseason by most outlets.
“I feel like I’ve been an underdog all my life,” he said. “So, looking at it from that perspective I feel like that’s something I’m more comfortable in. Just, yeah, doubt us. That’s cool. We’re going to come prove it to you.”
Miller on new additions at defensive end
There are new defensive ends on the roster coming from the transfer portal. One of the key additions in the offseason was Justice Finkley from Texas. He is expected to play on the opposite side, and the odds-on favorite to be the starter.
Miller was asked what players stood out.
“I think first thing that pops in my head is Justin Finkley,” he said said. “I feel like him coming from Texas, I think he’s going to turn a lot of heads this year. I’d look out for him.”
Kansas added more help in the spring portal signing Alex Bray and Leroy Harris. Bray played over 300 snaps at Illinois and Harris was an FCS Freshman All-American at Chattanooga.
“Alex Bray, he’s a strong dude,” Miller said. “You see him in the weight room, repping four plates on squat like it’s nothing. He has a big frame, and I feel like he’s going to have a pretty dominant playstyle, which is going to just complement me well on the other side as well.
“He (Harris) just plays a whole lot of speed, plays similar to me. So, it’s cool just giving him little pointers, little tips, things that helped my game, and just seeing if it can help him as well.”
