Riley Miller was excited about being selected for the Indiana Football Coaches Association North-South All-Star Game, which was announced Tuesday.
Whether the Yorktown senior wide receiver actually plays in the game is still up in the air, though.
Miller decided several weeks ago to accept Ball State’s offer to be a preferred walk-on, and one possibility is enrolling early, which would mean taking classes and participating in workouts over the summer. Since the game is July 17 at North Central High School in Indianapolis, he can’t do both.
Ideally, Miller said, he’d like to be able to get in the Ball State program as quickly as possible and start learning.
“As a preferred walk-on, my main goal is to go into program and make an impact,” he said over the phone Wednesday night. “If enrolling early will help do that, by all means, that’s what I’ll do. If they don’t need me and want me to play in the game, that’s what I’ll do as well.”
The 6-foot-1 Miller was among the state leaders in receptions (103), yards (1,348) and receiving touchdowns (14) in helping the Tigers go 11-2.
If Miller does play, he’ll be with some familiar faces. Delta star running back Joe Spegal is also on the North squad, and Yorktown head coach Mike Wilhelm and Yorktown assistant Steve Brown are on the coaching staff. Central linebacker Sam Cavanaugh was tabbed as an alternate.
Wilhelm’s dad coached in the game, and his brother and brother-in-law each played in it, so Wilhelm is looking forward to being involved – especially with such a deserving player.
“It’s just exciting for the Yorktown community to have a successful football season and then to have one of our great players rewarded this way,” Wilhelm said. “To be considered one of best players in the state, it’s something he should be proud of and I know the community is too.”
Spegal, Delta’s all-time leading rusher and a four-year starter, ran for 1,960 yards and 30 touchdowns as Delta went 7-5. He is also considering walking on at Ball State and is looking forward to possibly playing with Miller.
“I wasn’t really sure because I knew lot of people that could get selected, but I had a good idea I would,” Spegal said. “Coach (Grant) Zgunda said I had a good chance.”
The Delta coach has been to the game several times, as the head coach in 2005 and as an assistant in 2000.
“Joe has worked really hard in his four years at Delta High School. That hard work has paid off,” Zgunda said. “… I told Joe, it’s a great game and he’ll remember that week leading up to the game forever. I’ve been down there as a coach, and it’s just a neat week. They do a lot of things.”
Contact high school sports features reporter Ryan O’Gara at (765) 213-5829. Follow him on Twitter @RyanOGaraTSP.