Texas Football: Jerrod Heard the Next Braxton Miller, Only Better

Jerrod Heard figures to be a fixture for Texas football in 2016 after transitioning from quarterback to receiver. His move is reminiscent of another talented QB turned receiver just last season, Braxton Miller of Ohio State. Miller’s move to receiver was considered a resounding success but Heard will be even better.

Miller was a Heisman Trophy candidate as quarterback for the Buckeyes before injuring his throwing shoulder before the 2014 season. That injury cost Miller his entire 2014 season, forcing him to take a redshirt and rehab with an eye towards returning in 2015. in his absence, however, Ohio State won a National Championship behind two quarterbacks who also returned in 2015.

That success plus Miller’s shoulder remaining less than 100 percent prompted the team to find a new way to utilize his athleticism. The senior started taking reps at receiver during fall camp and made the transition officially prior to their season opener at Virginia Tech. Miller made an immediate impact, catching three passes for 79 yards and a touchdown in the 42-24 win over the Hokies.

While his debut made quite a splash, Miller disappeared at times in a Buckeyes offense that was unsure of how exactly to use him. He finished the year with 42 carries for 163 yards and 26 receptions for 341 yards with four total touchdowns. His potential still shined through despite the uneven production and Miller was drafted in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.

Sep 7, 2015; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Braxton Miller (1) runs with the ball en route to a touchdown against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Heard’s transition has a similar origin story to Miller. After starting 10 games in 2015, Heard suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him during spring practice. That put Heard behind Shane Buechele and Tryone Swoopes in Texas’ QB derby. Heard saw the writing on the wall.

Following spring practice, Heard spent significant time working on his pass-catching ability on his own time. Charlie Strong was adamant that Heard was still a QB when fall camp started. But during the opening days, it was apparent that Heard was third on the QB depth chart, so the former starting quarterback approached his coach about changing positions to better utilize his athleticism.

So far, the move appears to be paying dividends. Teammates and coaches are raving about Heard’s playmaking ability and are excited about getting him on the field. That success isn’t too surprising. Last season, he finished second on the team with 556 yards rushing on 139 carries. He was electric in open space against Cal and Oklahoma, rushing for 163 and 115 yards, respectively, with three rushing touchdowns. Cal coach Sonny Dykes said of Heard: “We just didn’t have anyone on the field as fast as he was. He’s good. He’s really, really fast.”