Hall of Fame
Position: Halfback
Years: 1922-1924
Place of Birth: Defiance, OH
Date of Birth: Mar 29, 1902
Place of Death: Cleveland, OH
Date of Death: July 28, 1979
Jersey Number: 16
Height: 5-11
Weight: 160
High School: Defiance, OH (Defiance HS)
He was no better than a substitute on his high school team in Defiance, Ohio, and few held any hope of Don Miller making the Notre Dame varsity when he reported to practice in 1922, an unimposing 5-11, 160-pound sophomore. Even Irish coach Knute Rockne was surprised Miller came out for football. But Miller was destined for greatness as the workhouse runner in the famed Four Horsemen backfield of Notre Dame's immortal 1924 national championship team. "With his fleetness and daring, he quickly sized up as a halfback to cheer the heart of any coach," Rockne later admitted. "Once in the open field, he was the most dangerous of the Four Horsemen. I would have to call him the greatest open-field runner I ever had." Miller's churning, high knee action made him extremely difficult to bring down. During the perfect ten game season of 1924, Miller averaged 7.1 yards per carry, and over his three-year career, Miller rushed for a 6.8-yard average. Miller was also the leading Notre Dame receiver in each of his three varsity years. A football All- America selection in 1923, Miller was also a basketball letterman and president of his senior class. Miller served as line coach at Ohio State for a brief time, then became a judge in Cleveland, Ohio.
