Ethan Miner keeping priorities in line as anchor of Bulldog front

August 31 might be Ethan Miner’s first test as an SEC football player, but the veteran center is handling preparation like an older player should.

With year six on the docket and Miner in the process of beginning his family, he’s one of the players on the team whose priorities are a little different than others. Next Saturday is strictly business and these final practices leading up have been attacked at 100%.

“I think we’re ready. We definitely need to condition more. You’re never done preparing,” Miner said. “It’s nice to finally be getting into the game prep and not just be going up against the defense. I’m looking forward to going up against someone that isn’t my teammate.”

Miner ready to hear cowbells ringing on Saturdays

Miner started this new journey in Starkville back in the spring when he transferred over from North Texas. He solidified himself as the Bulldog center after a strong spring but he also put in the work this summer to stay ahead of the pack.

Battles in practice every day against Kedrick Bingley-Jones and Eric Taylor did its job to harden the 6’2, 305-pounder and now it’s time to hit someone else. Butterflies will probably be present in the belly of the anchor of the State front when he runs out of the tunnel for the first time, but he can’t wait for that moment.

“I’m just looking forward to having a home crowd that’s going to be the way that this is,” Miner said. “I’ve heard about the cowbells and the games are crazy. Coming from G5, these were the games that I had to lock in. It’s nice that this is our home and now we have an advantage with it so it will be nice.”  

Just last year, Miner was on a team that would have been on the other sidelines hearing those cowbells. Miner knows exactly what Eastern Kentucky will be feeling when they march on to Scott Field and he knows the level of intensity that will be coming his way from the opposition.

After being a successful blocker for both Arkansas State and the Mean Green, Miner always felt his energy level take a jump when they played Power 5 programs. EKU did it just last year when it took Kentucky to the wire in a 28-17 defeat in Lexington.

“When I was at Arkansas State and UNT, these were the games that I had to show up,” Miner said. “We’re playing in a lower-level conference and scouts are going to see how we play against this competition. I think the worst thing we can do is underestimate them and that’s how you get into situations like Kentucky did last year.”

To help prevent the Bulldogs from having a slip up in game one of the Jeff Lebby era, the coach has approached things the right way, according to Miner.

Carefully handling players dealing with injury and balancing physical practices with smart principles has been the game plan for Lebby thus far. Miner has seen the far end of both sides and he likes the way that training camp and game week preparations have come along.

“He’s been awesome. He’s really done a good job of being smart and efficient with the practice,” Miner said. “I’ve been at places where it’s kind of an old-school mentality where we’re going to be tough and beat people in the ground. There’s an aspect where you’re going to get that in, but sometimes doing more isn’t the answer. You’ve got to keep guys healthy so they’re ready for the game.”

As Miner enters this new avenue in his life, he’s excited for the pay days that come on Saturdays, but he also knows his purpose.

Several of Miner’s teammates have joined him for dinners and Bible studies and they’ve grown both physically and spiritually together over the course of the last seven months. For him, the start of this new life in Starkville and in his final year as a college football player is important, but there’s more to his life than anchoring the State front.

“I’m not a very vocal person,” Miner stated. “I’m really limited in how much I talk so I try to make my words count. The Bible study was one of the things that was really important to me. Everybody wants to go to the NFL and, as a Christian, I don’t believe in prioritizing that.

“Yes, it’s important, but I have a bigger purpose in my life. I just think that if this is God’s will for me to do, I’m going to do it with the best of my ability. That’s the main thing that I’ve tried to talk to the guys about that there’s a lot to life and football will guide you through that.”