Zach Miller attended Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Arizona where he played linebacker and tight end on the football team and threw discus and shotput on the track and field team. He was an all-city discus thrower who finished 3rd in the state as a junior and set the school record as a senior. He was the regional shotput champion his senior year. As a sophomore on the football team, Zach was named first team all-city, all-region, and 3rd team all-state. As a junior he caught 27 passes for 520 yards and 6 touchdowns on offense. He finished with 102 tackles and 11 sacks on defense that year. As a senior, Zach served as team captain. He caught 47 passes for 790 yards and 6 touchdowns on offense while recording 134 tackles, 11 sacks and an interception on defense. He was named first team all-state and Arizona Gatorade player of the year. He was selected to play in the U.S. Army all-American Bowl following the season. He was also an excellent student who maintained a 4.0 grade point average. Zach was considered to be the top tight end prospect in the nation. He accepted a scholarship to the University of Arizona where he immediately became their starting tight end as a true freshman in 2004. He started all 12 games that season, catching 56 passes for 552 yards and 6 touchdowns. He was named Pac Ten freshman of the year at the conclusion of the season. He had shoulder surgery in the offseason and missed two games the following year as a result. As a sophomore, Zach caught 38 passes for 476 yards and 4 touchdowns in 10 games started. He was named honorable mention all-pac ten and second team academic all-pac ten after maintaining a 3.75 grade point average. As a junior, Zach caught 50 passes for 484 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was named first team all-Pac Ten for his play as a junior. Zach still has another year of eligibility remaining; however, he has opted to skip his senior season to enter the 2007 NFL draft.

Zach Miller has been the starting tight end at Arizona State, and one of the best in the nation since his true freshman season in 2004. During that time he has been a fairly durable player who has only missed two games in his career due to injury (shoulder). Miller has a good combination of size and speed for a tight end. He is an intelligent player and a hard worker. He is a big target and an exceptional receiver who runs precise routes and has soft hands. He rarely drops a pass and will make the difficult catch in traffic. Once he has the ball in his hands, Miller can be difficult to bring down with just one defender. He isn’t an elusive open field runner but he will break tackles and gain additional yardage after the catch. He lacks elite speed for the position, but he is athletic enough to split out wide and he can make plays down the field. Miller is also a solid blocker who displays good technique. He could improve by increasing his strength and becoming a more physical run blocker. Zach Miller isn’t a flashy player like Vernon Davis or Kellen Winslow; however, he is a complete tight end who can be an effective not only as a receiver, but as a blocker as well. He will look to follow in the footsteps of former Arizona State tight end Todd Heap and he should be drafted in the same area, projecting as a late first round pick in the 2007 NFL draft.