Duane Miller
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Duane Miller is one of Drake University's football legends. Miller's career at Drake (1966-1970) included record-breaking performances on offense, defense, punt returns and kickoff returns. His gridiron exploits earned him a selection on the Drake Football All-Century Team.
Miller's football career continued as he was chosen by the New York Giants' as their fifth pick in the 1970 NFL Draft. He played in all four preseason games and earned a spot on the 53-man regular season roster. Unfortunately, at the start of the season, Miller suffered a knee injury that ended his football career.
Early Life
Duane Miller was born on December 12, 1947, the son of Delmar and Eleanor Miller. He grew up on a farm in Kellerton, Iowa and attended Mount Ayr, Iowa schools. While attending Mount Ayr High School, Miller participated in a number of sports, receiving a total of 15 letters in football, track and field, baseball and basketball.
In his senior year (1966), he was named to the Iowa All-State Football Team and set the Drake Relays High School Division record in long jump.
College Career
For Miller's first 3 football seasons at Drake (1966-1968), he played defensive back and ran back punts and kickoffs.
During his time at defensive back, he set the school record for interceptions and another record for interception return yardage -- an average of 26 yards per interception return.
In his senior season (1969), Miller switched from defensive back to wide receiver. He still holds the season record for receiving yards in a season - 1,393. Miller holds Drake records for the most punt return yards in a season (481 yards in 1969), and the most kickoff return yardage in a season (679 yards in 1969).
Miller also holds the Drake record for the 2 longest punt returns, both in 1969: 91 yards against North Texas State and 86 yards against Western Illinois.[1]
In 1969, Drake's home game against Northern Iowa was designated as 'Duane Miller Day' and included a ceremony at halftime. In that same year, he was selected as a college division All-American.
Professional Career
Duane Miller was the 5th player selection of the New York Giants in the 1970 NFL Draft.[2] The team was coached by Alex Webster and quarterbacked by Fran Tarkenton. Miller played in all four preseason games and earned a spot on the regular season 53-man squad. Unfortunately, as the season was about to begin Miller sustained a knee injury that ended his career.[3]
Post Football Career
Duane Miller graduated from Drake University with a degree in Business Administration in 1970.
In 1972, he married his college sweetheart Donna (Hostetler) Miller. They have a son (Bret) and a daughter (Kyle).
Miller owns a very successful insurance agency in Des Moines, Iowa.[4]
References
- ^ Becker, Sharon R. "Duane L. Miller". IAGenWeb Project. IAGenWebProject.
- ^ "New York Giants Draft History". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ^ Fetty, Jack (2007). Rings of Gold: Successes from Ringgold County, Iowa. Ringold County: Palindrome Publishing of Iowa. pp. 69–74.
- ^ "About Us". Iowa Insurance Agency. Iowa Insurance Agency.