“I got a big ol’ Knight on my stomach” – Carter Miller all-in on UCF

Carter Miller says it still feels a little surreal.

A few months ago, he was working out with his new teammates for the first time, soaking in the surroundings inside the Nicholson Fieldhouse, UCF’s indoor practice facility. That was the moment everything clicked.

“I remember I walked out for our first little workout in January, just coming in the indoor and listening to coaches talk, looking around, seeing the UCF brand,” Miller said at the recent media day. “It was surreal. I mean, it’s something I’ve dreamed about. It really was a full-circle moment.”

Miller, a newcomer on the Knights’ offensive line, is expected to start at center. A former starter at both James Madison and Louisiana Monroe, the Texas native and Ravenwood (Tenn.) High School alum was one of the top center targets in the transfer portal. He initially committed to Colorado before flipping to UCF in late December.

“I’m a big fan of Coach (Scott) Frost and what he stood for,” Miller said. “He puts a lot of belief and trust in his players. One of my favorite things he always says is, ‘Play with no fear of failure and just play fast and play loose.’

“So I love that. And I love what he stood for. I wanted to be a part of what he was building at UCF.”

Miller also felt he was a perfect fit to play center in Frost’s offense.

“My belief in (Frost) comes from the belief that he put in me,” Miller said. “Just recruiting me, I could tell that he watched my tape, he watched my style of play, and he really went out and found me because I fit his style of offense and fit what he wanted to do.

“I was very grateful to have coaches really put that much time and effort into me. So I want to come and represent them since they believed in me.”

Miller brings experience, toughness and leadership to the offensive line. After starting at guard for James Madison in 2023, he made a full transition to center at Louisiana Monroe, starting all 12 games and earning All-Sun Belt honorable mention honors.

“I’m a very dominant person. I like to call the shots. I know what I’m doing. I’m very confident,” Miller said. “I put a lot of time in to be able to do what I do. I hold everybody accountable. Sometimes people might say I can be a little mean, but it’s brotherly love. I just want to help everybody be the best they can be.”

He’s embraced the competition within the offensive line room, a unit that Frost recently said was one of the most competitive on the team.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that are coming close,” Miller said. “A lot of us, the transfer offensive linemen, got here in the spring portal, which is good. So we had that spring camp together. We’re getting close. I know myself. I’m a very serious competitor. I love competition. I love opportunity. We try to take advantage of the moment, play very hard, play tough.”

He credits fellow veteran Paul Rubelt for setting the tone in the room.

“Being somebody who’s been at multiple schools, I can really appreciate how he’s been at this program throughout different coaches and different challenges. It’s very respectable to have somebody that dedicated.”

As a center, Miller says he’s already stepped into that leadership role, even if it took a little time to open up off it.

“Sometimes I’m a quiet guy, but I almost think I’m a different person on the field. I like to call the shots, especially being a center. You’ve got to let everybody know what they’re doing, who’s double-teaming where, blitz is coming here, watch this, watch that. So I think on the field, I’ve really stepped up my voice.”

His goals for the season?

“I want to be the best center in the Big 12 and be recognized nationally as one of the best centers in the country,” he said. “And for the team, our goal is to win a Big 12 championship. A lot of people say we can’t do it, but if the experts were always right, there wouldn’t be a need to play games on Saturdays.”

Off the field, Miller has embraced everything Orlando has to offer, from days at the beach to enjoying the city’s food scene. One recent highlight was a visit to BoVine, a steakhouse in downtown Winter Park.

Miller, who himself has dabbled as a tattoo artist, revealed he had a large Knight inked across his torso during the offseason.

“I’m honored to represent UCF. It’s a part of me,” Miller said. “This has been a dream since I was a little kid, to be able to play at a program like this.”

The tattoo took eight hours in one sitting.

“I was super excited to get this,” he said. “UCF has been a dream. I’ve always believed I could play at this level. To have this program put so much belief into me means a lot. It’s a very special feeling.”

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