Dainsus Miller Set to Return to Cowboy Football Program

LARAMIE -- Wyoming just received a veteran boost to its youthful cornerback room.

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Dainsus Miller, thanks to a recent court ruling, granting members of the 2022 recruiting class and extra year of eligibility, is returning to the high plains for a second season.

"Dainsus Miller will be with us today," head coach Jay Sawvel said Tuesday after the Cowboys wrapped up their sixth practice of fall camp. "So, however all those court battles and all this other stuff goes along, we'll be getting him ready to go."

Brayden Johnson, an All-Mountain West linebacker who led the team in tackles last fall, is also permitted to return because of this preliminary injunction made by Colorado U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney.

Sawvel said he is less optimistic about that happening, but isn't yet ruling out the possibility.

"I talked to Brayden Johnson multiple times over the last few days, and my expectation, unless something were to change over the next 24-to-48 hours, I think he's just going to move on with life," he added. "He was interested in it and the whole thing, but he's getting married in November."

This most-recent chaos stems from a new eligibility model adopted and approved by the NCAA in June, allowing all student-athletes five seasons of eligibility, better known as the "5-in-5 rule."

Miller started seven games and appeared in 11 of 12 for the Cowboys during his lone season on the high plains after transferring from Mercer. He registered 27 tackles and broke up five passes. He also forced a fumble, tracking down Colorado running back Micah Welch, who appeared to be cruising into the end zone from 45 yards out. Miller, a Georgia native, hauled him down inside the 5-yard line despite the visitors trailing by 15 points late in the third quarter.

"When I first heard the news, I really just wanted to see if it was real before any real excitement came," the 5-foot-10, 181-pound cornerback told 7220sports.com on Monday. "If anything, I’ll just be grateful for another opportunity and will make the most of it, for sure."

Miller is currently enrolled in classes at Wyoming.

Miller told 7220sports.com last Monday he knows if this ruling sticks, he won't automatically step in and return to his starting role. The Cowboys have already completed one week of camp.

"If he's ready to go the first game, great, he's ready to go the first game," Sawvel said. "But maybe he's not fully ready to go Until Week 2 or 3 or whatever. OK, great. It's a long season, so to pick up a guy that could help us at an important position, I think it's valuable."

Miller, who has been back home in Georgia, said he has stayed in shape in hopes of landing a professional contract.

"I wouldn’t go in expecting a spot to be handed to me," he said. "I'm open to starting from the ground and working my way back in to play."

Miller will join a room led by sophomore Tyson Shamsid-Deen, senior Ian Bell and Weber State transfer Logan Mackey. Rookies Therman "Boogie" Williams and Kendall Griffin have also impressed this offseason.

How does Shamsid-Deen feel about the return of Miller?

"That's who I really wanted to play with last year because we played (with the second unit) last year together, and we made a lot of plays," he said last week before the news of Miller's return was finalized. "I'm really looking forward just to playing the season. Dainsus coming back would be a big thing for us.

"... If he does come back, we'll be really, really, really good."

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