 "Photo: Allyson Riggs")
For HSU sophomore wide receiver Kevin Miles, this semester marked his last time as a Jack. Miles put on the HSU green and gold jersey for the last time this spring, enjoying every second embarrassing, laughing and battling his former comrades on the field.
With Miles leaving the Jacks, HSU will have to find a new target at the wide receiver position. Miles led the team in receptions with 46 yards, and compiled a substantial amount of special yardage. HSU has really lost a big-play threat.
Standing a little over 5’8”, 180 pounds, Miles will be missed by the Jacks and teammates such as senior defensive back Barry Davis. “Finding teammates like Kevin Miles is hard. Someone who is willing to run that extra lap or spend that extra set on the bench press when everyone around has left is rare.”
With two productive seasons under his belt, Miles now has an opportunity to try and play at the Division I level, at UC Davis.
“Here at HSU, I came to a fork in the road because now I have a chance to go to the school I wanted to go to out of high school and try my luck at a Division I school,” said Miles.
Being a standout football player in high school at Del Campo High, Miles was an all-state defensive back. He earned First Team All-City and All-Section honors, was named Cal League MVP, and got a vote to the all-star game.
Due to his size, Miles was not heavily recruited out of high school. So with limited options available, his high school football coach contacted UC Davis and HSU. With the SAT 2 still a requirement for Miles, with limited time left in the semester, he decided to attend HSU after visiting the campus in spring of 2007.
“I never really cared about being a scholarship athlete,” said Miles. “I just wanted to play ball however it was available to me.”
Miles’ opportunity to show his talents at a higher level has made former teammates, such as senior business major Travis Sherrod, proud. “Miles has an abundance of talent and I am excited to see him play here or at Davis. He let the world know that the little guys can play ball anytime he touched the field.”
While it’s a joyful time for Miles with his big plans for the future, he says he will miss the brotherhood he had with his teammates.
“No one can take that from us; the wins, the defeats, the practices, or the blood sweat and tears that 60-plus guys shared for my two seasons as a member of the football team,” Miles said. “I am going to try to make an impact there like I did here, because hard work always has a way of paying itself off.”
With his big-play capability on both sides of the ball, UC Davis may have found a new born star. Only time will tell if Miles will be a difference maker at the Division I level.
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