Ball State Punter named All-American

Chris Miller (Libertyville, Ill./Carmel H.S.), a junior punter on the Ball State University football team, has been named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America Team, which is the only All-America team in the country chosen exclusively by collegiate head coaches.

Chris Miller, who was named to the Playboy Preseason All-America Team in June, becomes only the sixth football player in Ball State history to be named to an All-America First Team. He is the only player from the Mid-American Conference named to the 25-person AFCA All-America Team.

Miller punted 56 times this season for 2,566 yards. His 45.8 average ranks third in the nation. Miller, who was named to the All-Mid-American Conference First Team this year, placed 22 of his 56 punts inside the opponents 20-yard line, while six punts were fair caught and not returned by the opponents.

A finalist for this year’s Ray Guy Award, which is awarded to the nation’s top collegiate punter, Miller was named to the 2006 Sporting News All-America Second Team and received honorable mention on the 2006 SI.com All-America Team.

In his career, Miller has punted 182 times for 8,217 yards and owns a 45.3 career average. The 182 punts rank as the fifth highest career total in Ball State history, while the 8,217 yards is the third best mark in Ball State annals. Miller’s career average after three seasons is better than the school record 44.2 mark by Brad Maynard, who is in his 11th year in the National Football League and punting for the Chicago Bears. Miller’s 45.8 average this season is the third best in Ball State history behind only Maynard’s school record 46.5 mark in 1995 and Miller’s 46.3 average last season.

Ball State finished the regular season with a 7-5 overall record and a 5-2 MAC mark. The Cardinals were MAC West Division Co-Champions, and are awaiting word on a bowl game invitation.