Dre’lon Miller’s Deebo Samuel-esque role an exciting, necessary Colorado innovation

Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver revitalized his role last Saturday, scoring twice and running out of the backfield against the BYU Cougars. (Photo by Remi Krupinski/Sko Buffs Sports)

Tasked with taking on a ranked Big 12 opponent, the Colorado Buffaloes would have to get creative if they wanted to compete.

They would also have to do it without a pair of their top running backs, Simeon Price and DeKalon Taylor, while the BYU Cougars were coming off three straight blowout wins. 

In a close loss where Colorado led for most of the game, it was the usage and performance of wide receiver Dre’lon Miller that shook BYU’s defense. His breakout game may have been a surprise to the Cougars, but for Colorado, this performance was expected sooner rather than later. 

The 5-foot-11 sophomore managed to earn playing time as a true freshman last season despite the wealth of talent at the position. He tallied 36 touches and three touchdowns in limited action in 2024, making him the prime option to lead the offense in 2025. 

However, a quarterback competition stalled the offense and Miller, along with it. With just nine touches and 63 yards through four games, it appeared that the hype was unjustified. But, when the team needed a playmaker most, Miller stepped up in a big way: 10 touches, 79 scrimmage yards, and two touchdowns on Saturday night against BYU. 

But his production didn’t come randomly; this was the plan of attack for Miller and the Colorado offense. His usage came from the receiver position, running back, and as the wildcat quarterback. 

Popularized by former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel during his breakout 2021 campaign, the “wideback” position saw Samuel and Miller used in a variety of creative ways out of the backfield. Samuel would be an All-Pro that season as the 49ers went to the Super Bowl. Miller’s creative usage can hopefully spark a similar run from Colorado. 

It clearly caught the Cougars off guard. His first run went for nine yards, then for 16, and his third was a touchdown that put the Buffs up 14-0. Suddenly, No. 25 BYU was down two scores after Colorado’s statement drives to open the game. 

More importantly, Miller’s backfield presence opened him up for a late receiving touchdown, sneaking by a defense that was keyed in on stopping the run. Blowing by two defenders, quarterback Kaidon Salter found Miller in the end zone for a score that would give the lead late in the third quarter.  

Coach Deion Sanders confirmed after the game that this role was “real real.” Whether that’s true or another way to throw off future opponents is yet to be seen. 

“I didn’t do enough, honestly. We still lost at the end of the day,” Miller said post-game on his performance.

And yet, it would be hard to ask for much more from him. He doubled his season’s touches in one night and accounted for a majority of the team's scoring. 

But with the cat out of the bag, we’ll have to see how others adjust to Miller’s unique role. Recreating his strong performance would go a long way toward upsetting a Big 12 opponent that once again is heavily favored. 

Colorado faces another daunting opponent in the TCU Horned Frogs next Saturday in Fort Worth.  TCU will be prepared for Miller and the CU offense, but may struggle to find an answer if its offensive line and skill talent can once again impose their will. 

For Colorado, it’s do-or-die as they face going 0-3 within the conference with a loss, so the full force of this offense should be unleashed. One game down in a prominent role for Miller, Buffs fans eagerly await an encore that’ll hopefully lead to victory.