Midseason report: Darnell Miller thrusts himself into spotlight

Every morning, Darnell Miller travels his 10-year-old brother, Fredrick, in primary school, then walks 20 minutes from Santee High in downtown Los Angeles. Before football training, when the bell rings in the afternoon, he sometimes jogs to pick up his brother, then returns home or takes him to train.

It is an overview of the life of the 17-year-old Miller, a Senior with a soft voice who leads the city section by rushing in mid-season with 1,159 yards and 13 affected for 4-1 health.

As an example of his talent, the 6-foot Miller and 170 pounds made such a positive impression in a defeat of 43-7 against the university that the opposing coach, Bryan Robinson, said: “He is n ° 1 behind in the city section.”

Miller rushed to 209 yards in defeat. He also plays basketball, runs a track and has a time of 4.6 seconds of 40 yards.

He used to play football for young people at 6 and was so afraid to be approached that he continued to flee the defenders when he had the ball.

He moved from Memphis to Los Angeles at the end of 2018. He did not play football his first year in Santee. He played the playmaker on university basketball. The football coaches noticed it.

“The coaches brought me out,” said Miller. “They didn’t stop asking me and I said I would try it. Now I love it. “

He was receiver last season until going back in mid-season after an injury to a teammate. He also embodies the defensive back.

“He is natural to the ball carrier,” said coach John Petty.

Santee High Running Back, Darnell Miller, on the right, takes his 10 -year -old brother, Fredrick, to primary school every morning.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Raised by a single mother, Miller enjoys her role on her fifth year brother who sometimes joins him on the football bus for matches on the road. Both are so calm and shy that he could take a third person to make them speak. Playing football helped Miller become more vocal, but his performances speak for him.

Miller has a warning. “I feel that I can still get better,” he said.

Take the excellence of mid-season with certain candidates of the player of the year:

• The quarter-Arrière Luke Fahey, Mission Viejo. After guiding the Diablos to victories on Santa Margarita, Folsom and San Diego Lincoln, Fahey showed precision and great judgment. He completed 74% of his passes with 12 affected and interception.
• Taylor Lee, Oxnard Pacifica. The junior quarter-rear made a hit in the dam a launch with 19 in its last three games for Invainu Pacifica. The more difficult competition begins in the Marmonte League.
• Madden Williams, St. John Bosco. The senior recipient meets expectations by playing his best in big games. He has 13 receptions for 331 yards and four touchdown entering the Trinity League Play.
• Jaden Walk-Green, Corona Centennial: a junior security that started the unknown season, he had an impact with his athletics. He begins on the central field for baseball and is versatile on the football field, hitting the balls, making plated and serving as a huskies botter.
• Mark Bowman, Mater Dei: he is a tight senior end showing everyone why he could be the best in the country. The monarchs did not give him a lot of passes because they had so many better receivers, but he had two hits last week against Bishop Gorman and contributes to almost all games with his blockage.
• Isaiah Arriaza, Damien. Spartans are 5-0 behind their senior quarter. Arriaza has passed for 1,491 yards and 14 affected.
• Rocco Tompkins, Jserra. The secondary school and bearer are only 5 to 10 years old, but what first five games he had. He leads the southern section by placing. “This is a plating machine,” said coach Victor Santa Cruz.
• Madden Riordan, Sierra Canyon. On the best defense of the Southland, you do not play with Riordan, a defensive back which has two interceptions and 16 plated solo. He had 10 interceptions last season.
• Khary Wilder, Gardena Serra: The defensive line player contributed six bags and 17 solo plated while having wreaked havoc in each match.
• Max Meier, Loyola: the defensive line player has seven bags and helped 40 plated while showing that Stanford stole an increasing talent.
• Caden Jones, Crean Lutheran. The junior quarter-arre and the star leader completed 76% of its passes for 1,432 yards and 10 affected without interceptions for 5-0 saints.

Players exceeding expectations: the second-year quarter of a year Chase Curren, Crespi; The Senior Quarter Jack Thomas, Palisades; The second-year quarter of a year Gino Wang, Jserra; Junior recipient Paul Turner, Birmingham.

Surprise teams: 1. Los Alamitos (7-0), 2. Beaumont (4-1), 3. Norco (5-0), 4. Moorpark (5-0), 5. Crespi (5-0), 6. Torrance (5-0).