The First Chapter of Miller’s K-State Story
Aug 24, 2026 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Does the story start with Conor Riley sauntering over to speak with Oliver Miller, a young up-and-coming sophomore offensive lineman after practice at Cherry Creek High School? Does the story start with Miller hosting Kansas State offensive line coach-turned-tight ends coach Brian Lepak in his parents' living room last May 19? Or does it begin with Miller discussing his journey ahead as an incoming freshman with the Wildcats one late December night — and less than two days after Miller's final game in a celebrated high school career?
No, no, no and no. The story starts as new K-State head coach Collin Klein takes a seat at his initial preseason camp news conference on August 11 at the Vanier Family Football Complex.
The topic at hand? Freshmen.
Miller's name quicky surfaces.
"He's doing a tremendous job," Klein says. "He's in a position as one of, if not the main, true freshman that will be in the heat of it pretty early. So, credit to him. He comes from a great program there in Denver and coaches that I greatly respect and even grew up watching a little bit. So, I'm proud to have him in purple."
Remember those words. They could become prophetic.
There's a sense of pride that accompanies being a "main true freshman," particularly as an offensive lineman. In 2000, Nick Leckey became the first true freshman offensive lineman ever to start on a Bill Snyder team. Since then, plenty of redshirt freshmen have made starts on the offensive line, including eventual All-Americans Dalton Risner and Cooper Beebe.
Now Miller has his chance to follow suit while potentially filling some mighty shoes as well.
Klein announced on Thursday that senior left tackle John Pastore, named to the 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 team, will miss the entire 2026 season due to injury. Pastore started all 12 games a year ago at left tackle and led the charge by playing 715 offensive snaps for an offense that ranked 10th in the FBS with just 1.08 sacks allowed per game and that featured a running attack that boasted 5.09 yards per carry — fifth most in K-State history.
"A couple days ago, we just got the confirmation with John Pastore, and he will have a season-ending lower-leg injury," Klein told reporters. "Incredibly unfortunate. Very freak in nature. Out of anyone's control. The work he's gone through and the work he put in to get himself ready to go and to not be able to play this year is very, very unfortunate."
K-State has its options. One of those options to start along the offensive line is Miller. The 6-foot-6, 294-pound native of Centennial, Colorado, has to be buzzing at the prospect as preseason camp wraps up Saturday and the season opener looms close with a date against Nicholls on September 5 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Back on December 10, 2025, while discussing his future, Miller leaves little doubt about his goals while at K-State.
"The league is the dream," Miller says. "The proof is in the pudding when you see all the players from K-State that are in the league. My aspiration is to be the best player and best person I can be. I love the life beyond football and the type of person you are. I just want to be that type of person and become a better person at Kansas State."
Yes, rewind back to December 10, 2025, when everything is still so new.
It's been a little more than 48 hours since Oliver Miller played his final snap, hugged his sweaty teammates, his brothers for many years, and helped hoist the Class 5A State Championship Trophy after top-seeded Cherry Creek High School blasted No. 2 Ralston Valley 56-28 — its sixth state title in the last seven years — at Canvas Stadium on the campus of Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Cherry Creek, nestled in Greenwood Village, and a suburb in the Denver metropolitan area, is known as a top-rated public school with an enrollment of 3,829 students. The Landmark movie theater might be buzzing other evenings of the week in Greenwood Village, but on Fridays in the fall, Cherry Creek football is the only show in town — winners of 15 state championships. With Miller helping lead a storied and stellar offensive line, Cherry Creek goes 12-2, 13-1, 13-1 and 14-0 with three state titles over his career.
Standing on the field at Canvas Stadium, Miller, the 41st-best offensive tackle in the nation, and sixth-best overall prospect in the state of Colorado in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports, officially removes his helmet for the final time in his high school career.
"I know how to win," Miller says. "Cherry Creek has helped me so much as I go to the next level."
Miller committed to K-State on May 19, 2025, and he took his official visit to K-State on June 5. On signing day, he wore his purple K-State hoodie, and he sat with fellow Cherry Creek teammate and K-State signee Max Lovett (the 49th-best wide receiver nationally in the Class of 2026 by Rivals), at a long table inside Cherry Creek High School.
Then things got a little crazy.
"We were at Signing Day when the news broke," Miller says. "I was sitting at the signing table and saw a Twitter post about it. Earlier in the morning, I was on a Zoom call with Coach Chris Klieman and super excited. Then I saw rumors Coach Klieman retired and we were going to get Collin Klein. I looked over at my parents, and they were looking at their phones doing the exact same thing. Then my mom showed me the Collin Klein photo.
"We know who Collin Klein is (a native of Loveland, Colorado), and about his success at Texas A&M (as second-year offensive coordinator) and how much of a legend he is at Kansas State (2012 Heisman Trophy finalist). I was a little iffy when Coach Klieman retired, but when I was right back into it when I saw Coach Klein was rumored to be the next head coach."
On December 4, Klein flew into Manhattan for his introductory news conference as K-State head coach, and Miller received a FaceTime from Klein, which Miller describes as "super exciting."
"I can't wait for what he does," Miller says. "Coach Klein is the embodiment of Kansas State. I trust him with any staff changes. He just wants the absolute best for the program. He knows SEC football. He knows a lot of ball. For him to be so excited and jump on a plane and be our head coach says a lot, especially with the winning seasons at A&M. I put my whole trust in him and I'm excited to see what he can do.
"We talked about my future and how I can't wait to see the player he makes me."
It all goes back to the Cherry Creek High School practice field during Miller's sophomore season. Then-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Conor Riley watched the Cherry Creek quarterback throw and watched a couple wide receivers catch footballs. Suddenly, Riley walked over to Miller to talk about ball. Riley sauntered over and told Miller about K-State. That began a relationship that only grew and took a step when Klieman and Riley visited Cherry Creek one year later and offered Miller a scholarship to play football at K-State.
"My first Power 4 offer," Miller recalls. "You could tell how much they believed in me from the jump. Then two weeks later, Coach Riley went to the Dallas Cowboys, so I was a little bit worried about my offer, but (assistant offensive line coach) Drew Liddle reached out. I was ready to go to Manhattan."
Miller visited Lepak this past spring.
"The first time that I met Brian Lepak in real life, we sat down after spring practice this past spring in his office with my parents," Miller says. "Watching him coach and on the sideline on gamedays, and in the spring practices, how he is in practice is coaching with high love. That's the type of coach I want to be coached by. The relationship we have in calling every week, he's the type of guy that is all about football. I love to learn from experts and that guy is definitely an expert."
Lepak was blown away on May 19, 2025.
"It was Monday morning, the week before finals, and Coach Lepak and I had a home visit scheduled," Miller says. "I was excited. Three days prior, I was thinking about the fact that I hated taking calls every night and knew I'd found home. My top three schools were Purdue, Minnesota and Kansas State. In the back of my mind, I was like, 'I know where home is.' The night before the home visit, I was golfing with my buddies, and I was on the ninth hole and said, 'I already know where home is. I'm going to commit to K-State tomorrow.' I told my parents, and they were ecstatic.
"Coach Lepak wasn't expecting it. He came to my house, and we had a great time, and at the very end, Coach Lepak was going to leave and visit other schools. I said, 'Coach, I love everything you're doing. I'm completely bought in. I'm committing to Kansas State.' He put his hands on the table and put his head back and mouth open. He was shocked. It was the best moment. We went outside and took a picture. I'll never forget his excitement. He was so excited for this 2026 offensive line group and how special it will be. This is a special group. I went to school an hour later, took my final, and posted about my commitment. I'd never experienced a high like that."
Oh, Miller had witnessed the rewards for hard work throughout his high school career at Cherry Creek. Under the guidance of offensive line coach Det Bittie, offensive linemen went places after high school. Miller saw former teammate George Fitzpatrick go to Ohio State before transferring to K-State. Other former offensive linemen went to Colorado, Iowa State and Purdue while a few went to Group of 5 schools, and a few went to the FCS.
"My sophomore year, my first-ever start was in the semifinals, and after that game, I knew I was going to have a chance to start my junior year," Miller says. "That offseason was still a grind. My coach, Coach Det Betti, is the best high school offensive line coach in the country. He looked at me during a training day, he said something about me getting a scholarship. I told him, 'I'm going to play my hardest for you.' Going to Creek, you always expect being a starter and being a dude for them, which will lead to an offer. I was humbled in the sense that if it happened, it happened, but the real turnaround was when I was playing my best football and was putting trust in my coaches and putting my film out. I trusted my coaches."
And Miller, who is described as an athletic, versatile lineman with good pass-blocking and run-blocking skills, had accumulated plenty of film through the years while experiencing some growing moments along the way.
"My junior year, my first year as a full-time starter, I went through the motions a little bit," Miller says. "I made my highlight tape and thought, 'I'm not happy with this.' Offseason leading to my senior year, we have great trainers, so the offseason was full head-down grind. My ability to just get on a football field, I always like to say before every game, I love to find something this year that I hate about a team, and that gives me the power and aggression I have throughout the game.
"What sets me apart and will help me play at the Power 4 level is my passion for the game and the way I play and express myself on the field and the way I'm clear minded. Whenever I play, I critique myself on the sideline and watch tape on the sideline. On the field, I play with passion and aggression, and finish plays. That's what sets me apart the most."
Off the field, Miller describes himself as "energetic" and "passionate."
"I'm talking 24-7," he says. "I love to learn. I have a passion for football and academics. I'm a family-oriented man who likes to put his head down and work."
He continues.
"I'm so ready to get prepared and get out there," he says. "I'm excited to show off my passion and energy to the rest of the team and be a dude for them. I love to be coachable. I'm not coached to slack off. That's not how my mind is wired, taking days or hours off. I don't stand still — it makes me itchy. What I dream about at night is being a guy who changes the mood on the field."
"What I dream of at night is being a dude for K-State."
All of the sudden, he just might have his chance.
Does the story start with Conor Riley sauntering over to speak with Oliver Miller, a young up-and-coming sophomore offensive lineman after practice at Cherry Creek High School? Does the story start with Miller hosting Kansas State offensive line coach-turned-tight ends coach Brian Lepak in his parents' living room last May 19? Or does it begin with Miller discussing his journey ahead as an incoming freshman with the Wildcats one late December night — and less than two days after Miller's final game in a celebrated high school career?
No, no, no and no. The story starts as new K-State head coach Collin Klein takes a seat at his initial preseason camp news conference on August 11 at the Vanier Family Football Complex.
The topic at hand? Freshmen.
Miller's name quicky surfaces.
"He's doing a tremendous job," Klein says. "He's in a position as one of, if not the main, true freshman that will be in the heat of it pretty early. So, credit to him. He comes from a great program there in Denver and coaches that I greatly respect and even grew up watching a little bit. So, I'm proud to have him in purple."
Remember those words. They could become prophetic.
There's a sense of pride that accompanies being a "main true freshman," particularly as an offensive lineman. In 2000, Nick Leckey became the first true freshman offensive lineman ever to start on a Bill Snyder team. Since then, plenty of redshirt freshmen have made starts on the offensive line, including eventual All-Americans Dalton Risner and Cooper Beebe.
Now Miller has his chance to follow suit while potentially filling some mighty shoes as well.
Klein announced on Thursday that senior left tackle John Pastore, named to the 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 team, will miss the entire 2026 season due to injury. Pastore started all 12 games a year ago at left tackle and led the charge by playing 715 offensive snaps for an offense that ranked 10th in the FBS with just 1.08 sacks allowed per game and that featured a running attack that boasted 5.09 yards per carry — fifth most in K-State history.
"A couple days ago, we just got the confirmation with John Pastore, and he will have a season-ending lower-leg injury," Klein told reporters. "Incredibly unfortunate. Very freak in nature. Out of anyone's control. The work he's gone through and the work he put in to get himself ready to go and to not be able to play this year is very, very unfortunate."
K-State has its options. One of those options to start along the offensive line is Miller. The 6-foot-6, 294-pound native of Centennial, Colorado, has to be buzzing at the prospect as preseason camp wraps up Saturday and the season opener looms close with a date against Nicholls on September 5 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Back on December 10, 2025, while discussing his future, Miller leaves little doubt about his goals while at K-State.
"The league is the dream," Miller says. "The proof is in the pudding when you see all the players from K-State that are in the league. My aspiration is to be the best player and best person I can be. I love the life beyond football and the type of person you are. I just want to be that type of person and become a better person at Kansas State."
Yes, rewind back to December 10, 2025, when everything is still so new.
It's been a little more than 48 hours since Oliver Miller played his final snap, hugged his sweaty teammates, his brothers for many years, and helped hoist the Class 5A State Championship Trophy after top-seeded Cherry Creek High School blasted No. 2 Ralston Valley 56-28 — its sixth state title in the last seven years — at Canvas Stadium on the campus of Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Cherry Creek, nestled in Greenwood Village, and a suburb in the Denver metropolitan area, is known as a top-rated public school with an enrollment of 3,829 students. The Landmark movie theater might be buzzing other evenings of the week in Greenwood Village, but on Fridays in the fall, Cherry Creek football is the only show in town — winners of 15 state championships. With Miller helping lead a storied and stellar offensive line, Cherry Creek goes 12-2, 13-1, 13-1 and 14-0 with three state titles over his career.
Standing on the field at Canvas Stadium, Miller, the 41st-best offensive tackle in the nation, and sixth-best overall prospect in the state of Colorado in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports, officially removes his helmet for the final time in his high school career.
"I know how to win," Miller says. "Cherry Creek has helped me so much as I go to the next level."
Miller committed to K-State on May 19, 2025, and he took his official visit to K-State on June 5. On signing day, he wore his purple K-State hoodie, and he sat with fellow Cherry Creek teammate and K-State signee Max Lovett (the 49th-best wide receiver nationally in the Class of 2026 by Rivals), at a long table inside Cherry Creek High School.
Then things got a little crazy.
"We were at Signing Day when the news broke," Miller says. "I was sitting at the signing table and saw a Twitter post about it. Earlier in the morning, I was on a Zoom call with Coach Chris Klieman and super excited. Then I saw rumors Coach Klieman retired and we were going to get Collin Klein. I looked over at my parents, and they were looking at their phones doing the exact same thing. Then my mom showed me the Collin Klein photo.
"We know who Collin Klein is (a native of Loveland, Colorado), and about his success at Texas A&M (as second-year offensive coordinator) and how much of a legend he is at Kansas State (2012 Heisman Trophy finalist). I was a little iffy when Coach Klieman retired, but when I was right back into it when I saw Coach Klein was rumored to be the next head coach."
On December 4, Klein flew into Manhattan for his introductory news conference as K-State head coach, and Miller received a FaceTime from Klein, which Miller describes as "super exciting."
"I can't wait for what he does," Miller says. "Coach Klein is the embodiment of Kansas State. I trust him with any staff changes. He just wants the absolute best for the program. He knows SEC football. He knows a lot of ball. For him to be so excited and jump on a plane and be our head coach says a lot, especially with the winning seasons at A&M. I put my whole trust in him and I'm excited to see what he can do.
"We talked about my future and how I can't wait to see the player he makes me."
It all goes back to the Cherry Creek High School practice field during Miller's sophomore season. Then-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Conor Riley watched the Cherry Creek quarterback throw and watched a couple wide receivers catch footballs. Suddenly, Riley walked over to Miller to talk about ball. Riley sauntered over and told Miller about K-State. That began a relationship that only grew and took a step when Klieman and Riley visited Cherry Creek one year later and offered Miller a scholarship to play football at K-State.
"My first Power 4 offer," Miller recalls. "You could tell how much they believed in me from the jump. Then two weeks later, Coach Riley went to the Dallas Cowboys, so I was a little bit worried about my offer, but (assistant offensive line coach) Drew Liddle reached out. I was ready to go to Manhattan."
Miller visited Lepak this past spring.
"The first time that I met Brian Lepak in real life, we sat down after spring practice this past spring in his office with my parents," Miller says. "Watching him coach and on the sideline on gamedays, and in the spring practices, how he is in practice is coaching with high love. That's the type of coach I want to be coached by. The relationship we have in calling every week, he's the type of guy that is all about football. I love to learn from experts and that guy is definitely an expert."
Lepak was blown away on May 19, 2025.
"It was Monday morning, the week before finals, and Coach Lepak and I had a home visit scheduled," Miller says. "I was excited. Three days prior, I was thinking about the fact that I hated taking calls every night and knew I'd found home. My top three schools were Purdue, Minnesota and Kansas State. In the back of my mind, I was like, 'I know where home is.' The night before the home visit, I was golfing with my buddies, and I was on the ninth hole and said, 'I already know where home is. I'm going to commit to K-State tomorrow.' I told my parents, and they were ecstatic.
"Coach Lepak wasn't expecting it. He came to my house, and we had a great time, and at the very end, Coach Lepak was going to leave and visit other schools. I said, 'Coach, I love everything you're doing. I'm completely bought in. I'm committing to Kansas State.' He put his hands on the table and put his head back and mouth open. He was shocked. It was the best moment. We went outside and took a picture. I'll never forget his excitement. He was so excited for this 2026 offensive line group and how special it will be. This is a special group. I went to school an hour later, took my final, and posted about my commitment. I'd never experienced a high like that."
Oh, Miller had witnessed the rewards for hard work throughout his high school career at Cherry Creek. Under the guidance of offensive line coach Det Bittie, offensive linemen went places after high school. Miller saw former teammate George Fitzpatrick go to Ohio State before transferring to K-State. Other former offensive linemen went to Colorado, Iowa State and Purdue while a few went to Group of 5 schools, and a few went to the FCS.
"My sophomore year, my first-ever start was in the semifinals, and after that game, I knew I was going to have a chance to start my junior year," Miller says. "That offseason was still a grind. My coach, Coach Det Betti, is the best high school offensive line coach in the country. He looked at me during a training day, he said something about me getting a scholarship. I told him, 'I'm going to play my hardest for you.' Going to Creek, you always expect being a starter and being a dude for them, which will lead to an offer. I was humbled in the sense that if it happened, it happened, but the real turnaround was when I was playing my best football and was putting trust in my coaches and putting my film out. I trusted my coaches."
And Miller, who is described as an athletic, versatile lineman with good pass-blocking and run-blocking skills, had accumulated plenty of film through the years while experiencing some growing moments along the way.
"My junior year, my first year as a full-time starter, I went through the motions a little bit," Miller says. "I made my highlight tape and thought, 'I'm not happy with this.' Offseason leading to my senior year, we have great trainers, so the offseason was full head-down grind. My ability to just get on a football field, I always like to say before every game, I love to find something this year that I hate about a team, and that gives me the power and aggression I have throughout the game.
"What sets me apart and will help me play at the Power 4 level is my passion for the game and the way I play and express myself on the field and the way I'm clear minded. Whenever I play, I critique myself on the sideline and watch tape on the sideline. On the field, I play with passion and aggression, and finish plays. That's what sets me apart the most."
Off the field, Miller describes himself as "energetic" and "passionate."
"I'm talking 24-7," he says. "I love to learn. I have a passion for football and academics. I'm a family-oriented man who likes to put his head down and work."
He continues.
"I'm so ready to get prepared and get out there," he says. "I'm excited to show off my passion and energy to the rest of the team and be a dude for them. I love to be coachable. I'm not coached to slack off. That's not how my mind is wired, taking days or hours off. I don't stand still — it makes me itchy. What I dream about at night is being a guy who changes the mood on the field."
"What I dream of at night is being a dude for K-State."
All of the sudden, he just might have his chance.
Players Mentioned
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