Iowa teammate: Tanner Miller is 'faster than people might think'

IOWA CITY - Tanner Miller once won the state hurdles championship as a Mid-Prairie junior and rushed for 4,100 yards in his high school career.

So when the sophomore Iowa safety picked off a first-quarter Northwestern pass and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown, nobody on Iowa's defense was surprised.

"You guys don't give him enough credit for his speed," Iowa safety Jordan Bernstine said. "He's faster than people might think."

With 4:08 left in the first quarter, Iowa led 3-0 but Northwestern had first-and-goal at the Iowa 8-yard line. Wildcats quarterback Dan Persa was pressured and tried to shake Iowa defensive end Broderick Binns. As Persa was going down, he lofted pass toward the Iowa goal line, and Miller intercepted it. His return tied the longest in team history.

"I remember the quarterback looking like he was going to throw a little shuffle pass-type, not a very good pass. I was just thinking, 'No way,'" Bernstine said. "Then he throws it, and Tanner catches it."

"I was just trying to stick with my guy in the end zone, and I knew he was scrambling back there," Miller said. "I had to try and stay with my guy and make sure he didn't get away from me. I just saw the ball in the air and went it got it."

Binns said initially he was upset he didn't sack Persa.

"It should have been a sack, but Persa kind of got away from me," Binns said. "He shrugged me off, and I held on to his feet, and I think I saw (defensive tackle) Steve Bigach came and kind of help me out. The next thing I know, I see Tanner Miller running down the sideline."

Iowa cornerback Micah Hyde chipped in with a key block to spring Miller to go the distance. Hyde helped Shaun Prater score on an interception return in the season opener with a big block as well.

"I tell you, I can play some fullback," Hyde said with a laugh. "Nah, actually I can't. I don't do that fullback stuff. But I just tried to pick up a block and Tanner did a good job and turned into an offensive player and went with it."

Miller finished the game with eight tackles. It was his first collegiate interception.