Sept. 1, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M senior Von Miller received his second preseason All-America honor of the week when Sports Illustrated named the Aggies' top defender to its prestigious squad on Wednesday.
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The honor is the latest in a litany of preseason honors for Miller, who lines up at the `joker" position in the Aggies' defensive vernacular. The joker is a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end in first-year Aggie defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter's 3-4 scheme. Previously, Miller had been named preseason All-American by Playboy and CBSSports.com, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by the league head coaches, and named to `watch lists' for the Lombardi Award, the Bednarik Award, the Butkus Award and the Nagurski Trophy.
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Miller, from DeSoto, Texas, led the nation with 17 sacks in 2009 and also ranked in the top five nationally in tackles for losses (TFLs). He led the Big 12 Conference in sacks, TFLs and forced fumbles. Miller, who was projected to be an early selection in the 2010 NFL Draft, returned for his senior season and will open the season with the Aggies against Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Kyle Field.