Mountain Empire Football Hall of fame
Inducted 2024
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Heath Miller
Heath Miller played quarterback for the Honaker High School, where he earned the Associated Press Player of the Year honor as a senior and was a 2-time AP All-State selection. Miller earned the All-Southwest Virginia first-team honors at quarterback and was a second-team All-State selection at defensive back, adding Region D Offensive Player of the Year accolades. He set several school records in passing and leading the team to its 1st State Championship game his senior year, in which they lost to King William High School, 25–15. Miller attended the University of Virginia, where he played tight end (2001 - 2004). After being red-shirted in 2001, he started every game in 2002. In his 1st game against Colorado State, he had 4 receptions, 42 receiving yards, and 1 touchdown. He scored touchdowns in each of his first 5 games at Virginia, setting a school season record for tight ends, and took him only 7 games to set the school record for touchdowns by a tight end. Miller led the ACC tight ends in receiving all 3 seasons of his college career. In the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl win against the West Virginia, Miller had a season-high 54 receiving yards on 3 catches. He ended the 2002 season with 33 receptions, 327 receiving yards, 9 touchdown catches (an ACC record for tight ends), and 1 touchdown pass, leading all ACC tight ends in touchdowns and receptions. He was voted second-team All-ACC and first-team Freshman All-American First by The Sporting News. In 2003 Miller won the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week Award for this performance and became the 1st University of Virginia tight end to record over 100 yards receiving in 12 years. A week later, he had a career game against in-state rivals Virginia Tech with 13 catches for 145 yards, earning a 2nd consecutive ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week Award. He scored the 1st touchdown in 2003 Continental Tire Bowl against Pittsburgh. He finished the 2002 season with an ACC record of 70 receptions and 835 receiving yards. He was voted second-team All-American by College Football News and first-team All-ACC. Miller was voted team captain before his junior season in 2004. Miller caught 3 passes for 45 yards and a touchdown against Temple, extending his streak of consecutive games with at least one catch to 22. That season, Miller had season highs of 9 catches and 110 yards in a loss against Florida State. Miller played his final college game against Fresno State in the 2004 MPC Computer Bowl. He led the team with 5 catches and 66 receiving yards. Miller was named unanimous first-team All-American for the 2004 season and was voted first-team All-ACC. Miller became the 1st ACC player to win the John Mackey Award given to the top college tight end. Miller ended his college career with ACC records for most career receptions (144), yards (1,703) and touchdowns (20) by a tight end. Miller finished 2nd in receptions, 7th in yards, and 4th in touchdown receptions for all positions. He also shares the school record for most 100-yard games by a tight end (3), and he caught at least 1 pass in 32 of his final 33 games. Miller skipped his senior season to enter the 2005 NFL Draft and was drafted by Pittsburg Steelers in 1st round, where he played from 2005-2015. His NFL Stats: Receptions (592); Receiving Yards (6,569); Receiving TDs (45); 2-time Super Bowl Champs; and 2-time Pro Bowl (2009, 2012). Miller was inducted into the Pittsburg Steelers Hall of Honor in 2022. |