Ventrell Miller will skip bowl game to prepare for NFL Draft
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators senior linebacker Ventrell Miller will skip the Las Vegas Bowl. Miller made the announcement on his Instagram page Wednesday afternoon, saying he will graduate on the same day as the bowl game.
As a sixth-year senior, Miller was voted a captain following the 2022 season. He made 10 starts at inside linebacker and appeared in 11 games overall. His 75 tackles rank third-best on the team, while a pair of forced fumbles are in the stat sheet as well. He only played in two games a season ago due to injury.
Following the Florida State game, Miller was asked about potentially playing in the bowl game.
“Man, guess we’ll see. I don’t know,” Miller said. “Like I said man I love those guys man. I’ve been going out to go to war with those guys each and every day, battling that practice with those guys. It’s been a pleasure.”
Wednesday, Miller made it clear why he is deciding to skip the Las Vegas Bowl, as the game conflicts with his ability to walk across the stage as a graduate of the University of Florida.
Miller says goodbye to Florida
“I knew this day would come, but I didn’t think it would take me 6 years to get here! First off, I would like to thank all my coaches and teammates who invested in my development. Thank you to all the support staff, including nutritionists, custodians, trainers, equipment, advisors, and tutors who I had the pleasure of working with during my six years at UF,” Miller wrote.
“I also could not have gotten this far without the support of my family and friends. I will always remember my grandma faithfully taking my brother and me to practice year round despite all of her health conditions. Lastly, I want to thank God, who is the author of all things and through him, all things are possible.”
“Having an opportunity to continue on one of the biggest stages in college football and earn a degree from a top five public institution is nothing short of a dream come true. Unfortunately, my graduation is at the same time as the bowl game. As both a student and an athlete, walking across the state is also very important to me. I’ve decided to forgo the bowl game and declare for the 2023 NFL Draft.
“Thank you, Gator Nation for an incredible six years. Always a Gator.”
