Rookie Reflections: Bruce Miller

Bruce Miller made quite the transition in 2011. The two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year went from defensive lineman to fullback in a season’s time. Thanks to some strong veteran guidance and detailed coaching, Miller was named a Pro Bowl alternate by the end of the year. The former seventh-round pick spoke to 49ers.com about his memorable rookie campaign.

DRAFT DAY
I was at my house in Georgia with my parents, grandparents and my agent. Also two guys I played with at Central Florida actually drove up to hang out and kind of keep my mind off the draft the first couple of days. It was good, we had a good time. Pick No. 211; I was sitting there for three days. At that point I didn’t look at a clock or a TV, I was just sitting there, like, “Here we go.” But they ended up calling and fullback it was. I talked to coach Harbaugh, Trent Baalke and I talked to running backs coach Tom Rathman at the very end. They explained their plans for me so I talked to coach Rathman for the longest. I just kind of went around the table and talked to a lot of people.

NFL AWAKENING
First time I felt like I was in the NFL was during the National Anthem at the Saints preseason game. That was a pretty sweet moment. It was a packed house; I was lined up on the sideline with the uniform on. It was the first time I was, like, “Wow. This is the NFL. This is pretty cool.”

TRAINING CAMP
Stressful. Very stressful. I was out the entire first week with a shoulder issue, just a precaution. So I sat the first week out and only had three days to get ready for New Orleans. It was like a crash course those first three days.

MEMORABLE MOMENT
I’ve got two of them. When Vernon Davis caught that ball in the Saints playoff game, that was No. 1 the best game I’ve ever played in or been a part of. And then the pre-game of the NFC Championship game against the Giants, that feeling was awesome. Those two moments are a tie.

VETERAN CONNECTION
It was Moran Norris and Frank Gore. Just learning from Moran and playing off of Frank. On the field, in the meeting room, practice field – those guys were always in my ear telling me what to do and where to go and how to get it done. They were the biggest help to me and who I clung on to. And I got a free Louis Vuitton bag from Frank. I actually used it because that was the only travel bag that I had that was big enough when I went back home. I had my 49ers bag and a little drawstring bag and I actually carried it and they thought it was funny. I had never carried a Louis bag before so I caught some flak for that.

COACHING INFLUENCE
It’s got to be Rathman. Has to be. He has so much experience playing the position and coaching the position. I learned so many things from him since I started the season all the way up until the very last game. I was constantly learning and growing not only as a fullback but a football player in general.

ADVICE FOR 2012 DRAFT CLASS
I’ve had the same advice for new players everywhere – high school, college and now last year I was the new guy. You should try to surround yourself with a group of guys that are going the direction that you want to go. For me, that was Moran and Frank. Twelve years in the NFL, six years in the NFL, Pro Bowls, all that stuff. They’re just good players who have been successful for a long time and that’s who I wanted to surround myself with. I think that’s a part of people being successful, is who is around.

WITH THE NO. 30 OVERALL PICK, THE 49ERS SHOULD TAKE…
Players that are going to come in and help the team in any way. We were so close last year that I think all of the additions they’re bringing in are going to help us and bring us to the next step.