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- Watch: Five-star receiver Easton Royal talks Florida official visit
- Happy Homecoming: Former teammates talk Hardmon and Trautwein
- Tulane player goes in-depth on Sumrall
Peyton Miller is a four-star offensive lineman from Anna, Texas. Miller is the No. 130 ranked prospect in the nation according to the Rivals Industry Composite, and received 34 offers before committing to Florida on April 27, 2026. He took his official visit to Florida on May 28, confirming his commitment to joining the Gators in January 2027.
Read on to learn more about his recruiting journey, finding his love for football through his older brother, and why UF is the best choice for him, in this edition of Getting to Know.
FOOTBALL/RECRUITING
Take us through the process that led to your commitment. What was that experience like for you?
“Yeah, I’d say it’s a pretty hectic process. Definitely fun. A big blessing to have a ton of opportunities, and it got a little hectic near the end. But, I just felt like Florida was home to me, and I just really meshed with the guys really well there and the coaches really well. It’s like a family to me. So, it was a little hectic near the end, but I’m very proud of that decision that I’ve made and where I’m at now.”
What made it so hectic?
“You have to let other schools down. Those conversations are hard as a kid. Those are adult conversations when you have to call those other coaches that have been recruiting you for however long, and you’ve built those relationships. You have to go tell [them] no, which is definitely hard, but it’s definitely good. Good practice, and good conversations you have with those guys, because they want nothing but the best for you and your career. So, you know, it’s a little hectic talking to them, a little stressful, but once you get it over with and you’re able to, you know, call the coach you’re committing to, and tell them you’re committing, it’s all worth it in the end.”
Which school came in second for you and why?
“I’d probably say Texas Tech came in second for me. I feel like, homegrown, [being] from Texas, of course, I kind of was in their backyard. I just liked the way they did things there. Coach McGuire – Joey McGuire – is a great coach. The O-line coach, Clay McGuire, is a great coach. I love those coaches so much…they were definitely second. It was a hard choice between them and Florida, but, I feel like I know I’m going to be the best player I can be at the University of Florida. So, they just…that’s just what it came down to.”
What is the craziest thing that happened in the recruiting process?
“Oh man, crazy? If you’re trying to do something crazy for me, it’s kind of a red flag. I’m a pretty laid-back guy, so you don’t have to do anything crazy to convince me or try to put on a show for me. I know my parents go on all these visits with me, and if they saw that, they’d know that was a little ridiculous. But no, nothing really crazy happened to me.”
Is there something or someone that inspired you to start playing football?
“Yeah, I’d say my oldest brother, just because [I] grew up watching him play, and then, being able to compete with him in the backyard at our house and just play with him. The fact that he grew up and played it, and I wanted to be cool like him and play football too. So that’s kind of where I got the love for it, and yeah, he’s definitely the one I try to be when I first started football, for sure.”
Is that one of your favorite football memories, or do you have a different one?
“I’d say another one is freshman year high school. I won the state championship here in Texas and actually got to win it playing with my brother. I was a freshman on the team, and then he was a senior, and we also have another brother in the middle between us. We all got to win it on the same team. So, it was my freshman year, [and] his senior year. It was just really great that we both got to be on the field at the same time and play together and win it together, so that was definitely fun.”
What are some of your greatest strengths as a football player?
“I would definitely say physical dominance, strength, very smart when it comes to the game of football, [and] high IQ. I like to pride myself on that. I really think having a high IQ when it comes to playing offensive line. Especially center is very important. [You] got to know what’s going on, no matter what. And I feel like those are my biggest strengths. And just explosiveness and being able to be nasty and physical off the ball.”
What about UF was so appealing to you?
“[I] always was a fan of Florida. Being able to see what they did, like back then with Tim Tebow and everybody. And, it was just that. And then, of course, Coach [Trautwein]. When Coach Sumrall got there I feel like they just matched what I wanted to be and what I wanted to be as a player. I feel like, especially since, like, Max committed—Max Hiller—and then Elijah, I feel like those two guys right there, like that’s going to be a physically dominant offensive line group. Being able to go with those guys, and really turn this thing around and turn it back to what it used to be, for sure.”
What are you looking forward to working on development-wise from the coaches at Florida, once you come to campus in January?
“I think the strength and conditioning program is great. I can’t wait to get on that, because the amount of body change they do to those guys once they first get there is crazy, if you look at the charts. And then, of course, just getting able to work with [Trautwein]. Get underneath him and work with him, and be able to coach me and just work me from the ground up, because there’s a lot to be done. I’m just looking forward to what he says, and what he has to coach me on.”
What is your relationship like with Coach Sumrall and Coach Trautwein?
“Coach Sumrall, he’s not like he’s actually a coach. He’s not like he’s the owner of a business. You can actually go talk to Coach Sumrall, have a relationship with him, and you know, I’m really close with him. I’m also close with all the guys in the O-line room like Coach [Mike] Polly and Coach O’Neill. So, I’m really close with the O-line staff, from Coach Sumrall, of course, even Coach [Brad] White and Coach Buster Faulkner. The coordinators, I’m really close to them as well. They always keep in touch pretty well on the phone, so I’m really close with a majority of the staff, for sure.”
Do you have any funny stories or memories with Coach Sumrall?
“[It was] pretty funny when I committed. I called Coach Sumrall, and he was out at dinner. I don’t know where he was, but he was at a dinner with his family, and when I told him I committed, he jumped up in the air and started freaking out. It was like a public dinner, and everybody was probably looking at him like crazy. So, it was pretty funny.”
Is there anything Coach Sumrall or Coach Trautwein has told you that’s really stuck with you?
“A lot of them have said I resemble Jake Slaughter a lot. I went to camp a couple of weeks ago and got to camp with them, and we watched it, and they watched it, and everything. We’ve done a lot of meetings, and to be matched up with a great player like that, who was taken so highly in the draft this year, that’s pretty exciting, though. It sticks with me, and I’ll tell you that it sticks with me the most because I want to be compared to those great guys that come through a school like that. I want to be better than them, so that’s stuck with me, of course.”
Who have you spoken to the most from your recruiting class?
“I’d say the guys I keep in touch with the most are Max [Maxwell Hiller] and Elijah [Hutcheson], of course. And then Davin Davison, of course—our quarterback. So, those are the guys I keep in touch with the most. We do have a huge group chat with all the commits, and of course, we just added the new commit from today. So, it was a good time, and those are the guys I keep in touch with the most, you know. O-line guys usually stay pretty tied together.”
Are there any players currently on the team you’ve spoken with the most? What have you all talked about?
“Harrison Moore was my host on my official visit, and he’s actually from Texas as well. He’s playing center [at UF]. He just came from Georgia Tech. And then, of course, Omeka [Ugorji]. He came from Stanford. He’s from Texas as well. So, I meshed with those guys very well, just because they’re from Texas. We have a lot in common, so we’re able to talk about a bunch of things going on in Texas. But I’d definitely say Harrison Moore. I’ve talked to him a lot, and he’s just a great dude, and I can’t wait to play with him.”
What is your favorite professional football team?
“The Dallas Cowboys.”
Who is your favorite player of all time?
“Lane Johnson. I’ve got to meet him in person a couple times, and so he’s pretty sweet. He’s a pretty cool dude.”
When did you meet Lane?
“I think it was during the winter this year. He comes and fishes down here in Texas, and a guy in my town actually is a fishing guy for him. He hooked me and him up, and he’s just a really cool dude. So, I got to meet him that way.”
What part of your game are you working on the most in your senior season ahead of reporting to Florida?
“I’d definitely say speed off the ball, getting that explosiveness, because that’s the biggest thing. Once you get to college, you’re not blocking high schoolers anymore. You’re blocking grown men that are probably about 320 pounds—340 pounds—that can move really well, and I think getting off the ball, being explosive, and getting my hands on people quick, and just being violent.”
PERSONAL
What is your major going to be?
“No clue. I don’t know. It’s going to be business, but I’m supposed to have a meeting with the financial advisor lady, so I could explore some majors.”
If you could play a sport outside of football, which sport would it be?
“I’d wrestle.”
What would be your first purchase if you got drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft?
“Probably a fishing boat.”
What is one item you can’t live without?
“Probably my phone. That might be bad to say, but I don’t know if anyone could.”
You’re given the AUX chord for the locker room before a practice or big game; what is the go-to song you’re playing?
“I stay off the aux, that’s not my speed. But if I had to, you know, NBA YoungBoy is definitely, definitely going to get the locker room pretty hyped up. That’s probably the best option.”
What is your favorite movie and TV show?
“Favorite movie…”Remember the Titans.” [For my] favorite TV show, I can’t even tell you. I don’t watch shows like that.”
Are you watching anything right now?
“No, not right now. Like, there’s a show called “Land Man” that’s pretty good. It’s based out of Texas, and then like “Outer Banks” [and] “Stranger Things.” I’ve watched all those too, so I’m pretty familiar with all the trendy shows.”
Do you play any video games, which ones?
“Oh yeah, I play NCAA. I just downloaded [PGA TOUR] 2k25 golf. I’ve been playing that a lot. I like to play golf, so those are the games I play.”
Do you have a favorite flavor of Gatorade?
“Probably like the lemon-lime one.”
What’s your favorite meal?
“Steak for sure. I cook steak all the time.”
If you could have dinner with anyone from any point in history, who would they be, and why?
“I feel like a good dinner would be like Jason Kelce. I feel like that’d be pretty, pretty interesting.”
What are three things on your bucket list?
“I want to go skydiving. I want to catch like a big shark in the ocean. I want to do something crazy, I don’t know, because I wouldn’t want to, like, die a lame person. And then, of course, going to the NFL would be wonderful.”
Apple Music or Spotify?
“Apple Music.”
Waking up early or going to bed late?
“Going to bed late, for sure.”
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
“Loud people. Obnoxiously loud, annoyingly loud.”
Quiet or outgoing?
“It depends on the crowd. A lot of people I don’t know, I’m a little more quiet, feel it out, but if it’s with a lot of people, I’m definitely more outgoing.”
Do you have a hidden talent?
“No, not at all.”
What’s an interesting fact that Gator Nation should know about you?
“I love to fish. So, I can’t wait to do that in Florida. I’d say I love to hunt too. I’d say those are two pretty interesting facts.”
What are you looking forward to in college outside of football?
“I’d just say meet new people, of course. You know, a big school with a lot of people. I’d say meet new people, learn more about the state of Florida, like just being there and having fun.”
Do you know anyone from your high school or your area who’s coming to Florida? Or are you coming by yourself?
“No idea, probably not. There was a little shock when I chose somewhere out of Texas for everyone here, but I’d probably say the same for Max, too, because he’s all the way in Pennsylvania. So that’s a little different, but no, no, nobody that I know really is going to UF.”
What advice do you have for young players dreaming of going to college?
“At my position, I’d definitely say be nasty, be physical, be me. You’re not gonna go anywhere being soft. I’d say that. That’s for sure. And yeah, be smart, don’t do stupid things.”
What message do you have for Gator Nation?
“Be prepared because we’re about to win, and it’s going to come quick, you know. We’re going to bring it back to what it used to be, and we’re going to be a powerhouse really soon.”
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