Ray Lewis will probably always be Lakeland Kathleen's most famous football alum but he may have started a tradition for them at the linebacker position.
More recently, they were the home of Gionni Paul, a Miami signee in the class of 2011. He left the program after two years but ended up as a 1st team All Pac-12 Selection at Utah and is expected to be selected in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Now the Red Devils feature a rising prospect in Ventrell Miller (6-1, 220). He looks to be on his way after a junior campaign with 104 tackles, 9 for loss, a sack, an interception, 5 pass breakups, and 2 fumble recoveries.
"I like Luke Kuechly because he's everywhere on the field," Miller said. "He's passionate and he has a presence in everything the defense does. My style is like a see ball, get ball, type of thing. Whoever gets it, that's where I'm headed as quickly as possible. I can be better at getting off blocks so that's the main thing I can think of."
Miller has picked up ten FBS offers from Bowling Green, FAU, Iowa State, Massachusetts, Miami, N.C. State, Nebraska, Southern Miss, USF, and Virginia Tech. He's allowing more suitors to roll in before he attempts to determine the direction of his recruitment.
"I'm staying open for right now, I'll be taking some visits but none yet though," Miller said. "I haven't really tried to plan anything out, I'm just letting it come to me and seeing where it goes. I'm going places during the summer for sure, maybe the spring too if things pop up."
Miami may be Miller's most prestigious option and they jumped in the mix on Thursday. There wasn't much of a lead up so it the news was a lot to digest.
"I saw all the coaches followed me when I went on Twitter so that got me thinking 'What's going on?'," Miller said. "The same day, they asked for my coach's number and called him. He gave me their number and when I hit them up, they said I had an offer. They loved my film and I was very excited about getting such a big school."
Miller hasn't visited Coral Gables, or hardly anywhere for that matter, but the Hurricanes do check a couple boxes on his list.
"First off they're close by, coming down from Lakeland it's not like I would have to leave the state or anything," Miller said. "They have that name too, Miami is just known as one of those teams. It gets you a little hyped up to think about playing somewhere like that. I'm not familiar with the area personally but a lot of people know about the reputation."
Miller's first scholarship arrived in October but it has picked up a lot more over the past month or so. He touched on why things transpired the way they did.
"It all started when an FAU coach came to one of my games," Miller said. "I basically did my thing, they offered the next day, and it was on from there. Sometimes it just takes one person to recognize what you can do. I tried to make myself known so more and more schools are finding out about me now."