KENNESAW, Ga. — When Cam Miller decided to enroll at the University of Tennessee in 2022, he was a wide receiver recruited by then-Tennessee assistant coach Jerry Mack. 

Four practices into his first spring with the Volunteers, multiple injuries created a shortage of defensive backs. Miller, who was dealing with his own hand injury, decided to change positions to help the team. 

From there, Cam Miller the defensive back was born. 

“I felt like I could make the change and go play safety because I was an athlete coming out of high school,” he said. “But I feel like that was a great switch for me. I’m just offensive smart, so I feel like that was one of the traits I picked up.”

After redshirting his freshman season, he transferred to the University of Memphis, where he spent the next three years. Miller appeared in 18 games for the Tigers, totaling five tackles. 

Through five games as a starter with the Owls in 2026, Miller has recorded 24 tackles, one interception, and one pass deflection, with a career-high nine tackles at Tennessee, the school where Miller’s college football journey originally began. 

“I feel like everything I went through since I started at Tennessee to now was a big jump in my life that I needed to go through on my journey,” he said. “I feel like it made me who I am today. The grit, the hard work, and the determination of not quitting. That’s the reason why I’m in the position I am today.”

When looking for a place to transfer for his final collegiate season, a quick conversation with Owls head coach Jerry Mack closed the deal. 

Mack, who recruited Miller at Tennessee and Miller’s brother at Memphis, knew the type of player he would be getting. 

“I’ve known about the Miller family for forever,” Mack said. “Those guys are tough individuals, hard-nosed, extremely smart, good football men. When Cam jumped in the portal and we got a chance to talk, it was probably a 15-second conversation. He said, ‘Coach when do you want me there?’ I said, ‘I want you there the first day we get back in the building.’” 

After Miller’s career day at the stadium where Mack originally recruited him out of Memphis Academy of Health Sciences, the head coach was elated. 

“I see the same thing in Cam I saw when I recruited him at Tennessee,” Mack said. “Always smart, always in the film room studying, and he’s been a good person to have on our football team. He’s finally getting an opportunity to get on the field and play a lot more because he’s healthy, but I’m extremely proud and extremely happy for Cam.”

For Miller, the inspiration he found to continue playing the game of football comes from his father, Cedric.

Cedric Miller coached both Cam and his older brothers in high school, and watching his dad’s old highlights rubbed off on him. 

“Watching my dad coach my older brother inspired me to play football,” he said. “He also showed me some highlights of him playing back in college, so I feel like watching those just inspired me to want to be like him. I wanted to grow up and have a dream of playing football.” 

Off the field, Miller enjoys playing video games to keep him entertained while he’s not playing football. 

“I own a PC at home and I like to get on a lot,” he said. “I play a lot of the new scary games, games that make it challenging. I feel like that was a big investment that I made probably two years ago, and I never looked back on it.”

Just like his PC investment, Miller has gotten an opportunity with the Owls and isn’t looking back on it.

With a career-best performance in the books, Miller doesn’t plan on stopping there. He is fully focused on the rest of the Owls season.

“My main goals for the rest of the season is to pick up some momentum in conference play,” he said. “Get a win coming up soon, and keep winning and winning right now. Be 1-0 every day until we accomplish our goals and retain the conference championship.”