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Ryan Day shares plan to keep Harry Miller involved with Ohio State program

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•03/22/22•

Jonathan Wagner

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Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.

Harry Miller, a former offensive lineman for the Ohio State Buckeyes, has medically retired from football to focus on his mental health. Since his retirement, Miller has spoken out about his mental health issues, and is trying to speak out to help others who might be in similar situations.

But just because Miller has retired from football doesn’t mean that he is completely walking away from Ohio State’s program. He could stay with the team in some capacity, and Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said that Miller wants to find a way to have an impact on the Buckeyes program.

“We’re still trying to figure that out, what that means for him,” Day said when asked about Miller’s involvement with Ohio State’s program moving forward. “The fact that he retired from football is one thing, but he still wants to be part of the program and find a way to make an impact. We said we don’t need to make that decision right now. We’re going to give it a little time and try to figure out how that is. But he certainly has a lot to give.”

More on Miller stepping away from Ohio State football

Miller has said that mental health has been something he’s struggled with since he was a kid. Once he got to college at Ohio State and began balancing everyday life with being a student athlete, it became tough to balance. Now Miller is trying to use his platform to make a difference, and he is sharing his message with the world in hopes of helping others who might be struggling with their mental health.

Miller joined the TODAY show on Monday to share his story.

“The dilemma is that nobody has to say something, but that is precisely why somebody has to say something,” Miller said. “I had no intention of this happening the way that it did. And people have called me brave, but to me it just felt like not dying and it felt like being honest. Maybe bravery is just being honest when it would be easier not to.”

Miller knows that his words can have great impacts on others, and he has used that to try and reach people who might be struggling.

“It’s so hard. I realized the weight of words when I was – when you’re preparing to not be able to say words anymore, you realize how important your words are,” Miller said. “Even now, they feel so clumsy, speaking about it now. I would say hope is just pretending to believe in something until one day you don’t have to pretend anymore. Right now, you have all the logic, all the rationale in the world to give up on it. But I would just ask to pretend for a little bit. And then one day you won’t have to pretend anymore and you’ll be happy. I’m just so grateful.”