Clemson Right Tackle Blake Miller Adds His Name to the Mix

I was evaluating Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik on his 2024 game film over the summer, and I kept noticing his right tackle, Blake Miller. I knew at some point I had to come back to him.

I’m glad I did.

Miller has the athleticism of “an overgrown tight-end,” and he has a real chance to develop into a quality starter in the NFL for a long time.

Speaking of a long time…

Heading into the 2025 season, according to his school’s website, Miller had started every game of his college career, dating back to the 2022 season (41 starts).

This durability adds to his value.

What else stood out on his 2024 game film?

• Aggressive nature
• Physicality
• Competitiveness
• Selflessness
• Will to win
• Gets surges of high energy
• Running speed

Miller has a warrior spirit. He finishes blocks whenever he can. It doesn’t matter if it’s a pass play or a running play; if he can put his man down, he will. He’s also always looking for a defender to block, and he’s not afraid to lend a helping hand to one of his fellow offensive linemen if he’s freed up.

No doubt football is important to him.

Miller’s movements are fluid, and he’s one of the fastest offensive linemen I’ve ever evaluated in terms of his raw running speed. Watching Miller reminded me of when I evaluated Ravens’ center Tyler Linderbaum when he was coming out of Iowa. Yes, different positions. But Linderbaum’s football speed getting to the second-level (where the linebackers are lined up pre-snap) and further downfield really stood out on his college film, much like Miller’s does. Miller can really move for a man his size.

What is the biggest concern with Miller?

• Footwork in pass protection

Didn’t you say that he’s fast?

Yes, but foot speed and foot work while blocking are two different things.

Despite showing the ability to do it, Miller has a strong tendency to stop moving his feet and rely too much on his strength in pass protection. It tends to happen at the halfway point of his drop into pass protection along the outer wall of the pocket, and the result is him losing blocking leverage. He gets turned sideways and “opens the back door,” as I like to say in scouting lingo. He also sometimes opened the inside gap (the front door of the pocket) and became too “overcommitted” to the outside.

Miller was “decent” at picking up stunts, blitzes, and delayed blitzes in pass protection. Keyword: Decent.

Additional value?

While the hiccup in his pass protection caused his value to be discounted, his versatility adds to his value.

Miller slid over to left tackle against Pitt and The Citadel due to injury, and he was able to hold his own.

Teams will like this about him.

Where does that leave us?

I really like Miller (hence my grade).

I don’t love him.

Not yet.

I need to see him get that footwork right in pass protection before I move him up on my draft board. Pass rushers in the NFL are only faster and more polished.

#78 Blake Miller 6-foot-6, 315 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Fall Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a Second Round prospect as of December 10, 2025

2024 game film evaluated: Georgia, Appalachian State, NC State, Stanford, FSU, Wake Forest, Virginia, Louisville, Virginia Tech, PITT, The Citadel, South Carolina, SMU, and Texas (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

An active and strong prospect who is accustomed to playing in an NFL-type offense. Above average protective instincts. Decent football IQ. Fast first step. Sudden. Battles in pass pro. Long arms. Uses hands like two giant vicegrips. Can overaggress. Can rely too much on upper body strength over technique. Will waist bend. Susceptible to anything outside the box. Compensates with effort. Able to hunker down vs. bull rushes. Excels at pulling on run blocks and making combo blocks. Hit and miss in space.

What to watch for during the 2025 college football season

1. Footwork in pass pro?

2. How does he look vs. stunts and blitzes?

3. Hitting targets on the move while run blocking?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.