May 10, 2024 17

Mason alums Knue and Miller earn NFL opportunities

Andrew Little | Editor-in-Chief
The Long Green Line of Mason Football
extends from Dwire Field to Paycor Stadium
and Raymond James Stadium.
Tanner Knue and Eric Miller, both 2018
Mason High School graduates, signed
respectively with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and the Cincinnati Bengals of the National
Football League (NFL) as undrafted free
agents following the 2024 NFL Draft.
Knue, a wide receiver, walked on at
Eastern Michigan University (EMU)
following his career as a Mason Comet. He
eventually earned a scholarship and led the
Eagles in receiving yards in 2022 and 2023.
His 17-career receiving touchdowns are the
third time in EMU history.
Miller, an offensive tackle, spent five
seasons at Purdue University before
transferring to the University of Louisville
for his final season of collegiate eligibility.
Miller started 43 games in college and was
named an All-Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC) Honorable Mention in 2023.
Entering the NFL Draft, thousands of
players are eligible. Only 257 were drafted
in 2024, and around 400 have signed
undrafted rookie contracts. Miller said the
leadup to and after the draft was a very
stressful period, and it is special to get the
opportunity to sign with Cincinnati and stay
in his hometown near his family.
“It’s a nerve-wracking period,” Miller said.
“There was just a lot of anxiety. You just
want an opportunity and I’m so thankful
to get an opportunity to show it I’ve gotten
to do it. Here in Cincinnati, it is awesome.
I can’t thank the Bengals organization
enough. So it was exciting and my family
was really fired up about it.”
Knue felt similarly entering the draft
and was overcome with relief and gratitude
when Tampa Bay called with a contract
offer, giving him a chance to continue
Josh Kline (Class of 2008) was a seven-
year NFL veteran with stints as a starting
offensive guard with the New England
Patriots, Tennessee Titans and Minnesota
Vikings. Kline, an undrafted free agent
signing with the Patriots in 2013, was on
the roster for their Super Bowl XLIX
championship team.
Elijah Nkansah (Class of 2013) signed with
the Tennessee Titans in 2018 as an undrafted
free agent. Nkansah spent four years in the
league, including time on the active roster
for the Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans
and Cleveland Browns.
Miller and Knue were in high school
Tanner Knue in 2017 as a Mason football
during Kline’s career and Nkansah’s Graphic by Eastern Michigan football social media
senior.
predraft process. Miller even got to work Tanner Knue’s official signing graphic.
out with Nkansah when Miller was a senior
preparing to play Big Ten football at
Purdue.
Miller cited Nkansah and Kline, who all
played on the offensive line, as inspirations
during his football journey and hopes to
follow in their footsteps with his football
career and representing Mason.
“It was cool to look up to [Kline and
Nkansah] and now have a chance to do what
they did,” Miller said. “To represent this
Mason football program my whole career
my whole life has been awesome and I just
want to keep doing that and do right by
them.” Eric Miller in 2017 as a Mason football Graphic by Louisville football social media
Each NFL team hosts a local pro day senior. Eric Miller’s official signing graphic.
for nearby college teams and hometown Conference second-team honors as a wide Rookie minicamps for the Cincinnati
players like Knue and Miller. Knue and receiver. Knue was also the GMC Defensive Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Miller got to experience the Bengals Player of the Year in basketball. He then are from May 10-12. Drafted players and
organization firsthand at their local pro opted to stick with football and continue his undrafted free agent signings like Miller
day, working out and meeting with Bengals athletic career at Eastern Michigan. and Knue get on the practice field, learn
coaches and staff at their facility. Knue credits Mason football head coach their teams’s playbooks with coaches
“It definitely helped because we both did Brian Castner for helping rekindle his love and prepare for summer training. NFL
the Bengals local day with guys that we for the sport and convincing him to return organized team practice activities (OTAs)
grew up playing against in high school,” to the sport. Knue acknowledges that he begin in late May. More players will join in
Miller said. “It was surreal to walk in there had an unconventional path to playing June with team minicamps before training
because it’s where you grew up.” football at the next level but believes his camp begins in late July, as teams work to

working towards his dream of playing in Miller remembers playing a youth journey strengthened his mentality of cut their 90-man roster to the final 53 in

the NFL. football game at the Paul Brown Stadium, taking his career one step at a time. August before the regular season.

“[Signing] was a lot of relief because you now Paycor, as a kid. Now, he is competing “There’s a lot of guys when you get to Miller and Knue agree they have a

go into [draft weekend] and have no idea
what’s gonna happen,” Knue said. “[I] talked
to a few teams here and there [before the
draft], but you don’t really know. I’m just so
relieved that I got the phone call from the
Buccaneers. I’m ready to get after it because
it’s really hard to get in the NFL, and it’s
even harder to stay.”
Before Miller and Knue’s undrafted
rookie deals, Mason has had two alumni
sign an NFL contract, both eventually
playing in the league.
for an NFL roster spot on the same field this
summer as a professional football player.
“I played games in Paycor when it was
Paul Brown Stadium back in the day for
youth football,” Miller said. “To work out
there and now to sign a contract [with the
Bengals] and be going to rookie minicamp
next weekend is incredibly exciting.”
Knue played football in his youth but
did not play as a sophomore or junior to
focus on basketball. He returned to football
as a senior and earned All-Greater Miami
college that their mindset is the NFL, kind
of looking past college, and I was taking
it a year at a time [since] I started out as a
walk-on and I wasn’t even thinking about
the NFL,” Knue said. “It was about getting
on the field first and once I got on the field,
it was about earning a scholarship and once
I earned a scholarship about being a team
captain, and then now being present which
got me to where I am today and I’m gonna
keep having the same mindset because it’s
just a start. I haven’t made it yet.”
long road ahead but are excited about
the opportunity to work with NFL teams.
Although there is an uphill battle to climb
to earn a practice squad or roster spot in
the fall, Miller said he looks forward to
competing and continuing his football
career.
“[Rookie minicamp] will be great
competition trying to learn the playbook
and get adjusted to playing at the NFL
level,” Miller said. “[Knue and I] are really
excited about it.”