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‘I’m Glad to Be Back’: Dainsus Miller Embraces His Second Chance at Wyoming
LARAMIE, Wyo. – Cornerback Dainsus Miller didn't know whether he'd get another chance to play college football again.
That didn't stop him from preparing like he would.
Miller returned to Laramie in August after a judge issued an injunction granting another season for fifth-year players; he kept working with the Cowboys while waiting to find out if he could play. The 10th Circuit Court stayed the injunction, which left his status in limbo before the season. Plenty was unknown, including whether he would ever get back on the field for Wyoming.
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Miller said there were times when he wondered about it himself.
"I was questioning it a little bit," Miller said. "But, I don't know. I just always felt like I wasn't here for no reason."
He knew he had to keep working and be ready whenever the opportunity came.
"Whether it's four games in, one game in, maybe even the last few games of the season, I was going to stay ready and always be prepared to play," Miller said.
Last week, he finally got the news he had been waiting for.
Miller said he believes it was Wednesday when he received an email from his attorney letting him know he could play. An Indiana judge granted a preliminary injunction clearing Miller to become eligible to play for the Pokes.
He didn't waste much time getting back to Wyoming's facilities.
"It was a lot of joy, a lot of joy to it," Miller said. "Instantly I jumped up. I came up to the facility instantly. I was at home, came right up here. Just happy."
A few days later, Miller was back on the field against Hawai‘i.
The matchup had a little irony.
The last college game Miller had played before Saturday was also against Hawai‘i, a game he thought at the time might be the final one of his college career.
Instead, he got another chance against the same team, this time in front of the Wyoming crowd on Homecoming.
"It felt good, man," Miller said. "I feel like it just boosted me a little more, just seeing all that and the fans on Homecoming. Against the team that my last game I thought was my last college game in my career."
Miller called it "a little redemption."
The redemption was a 27-10 win over Hawai’i, in which Miller had 4 total tackles to “knock the rust off” for his comeback story.
Getting back on the field didn't mean everything was perfect.
Miller said there were a few plays where he could tell he hadn't played in a while. Overall, though, he felt like himself again.
That didn't stop him from being critical of his performance.
"I had some plays where, for me, I see I could have played better," Miller said. "Personally, I'm just very critical of myself. So I see like there's a lot of things I hope to do better."
Miller has put together a solid career to this point.
He started at Marshall in 2022 before transferring to Mercer. After recording nine tackles and three pass breakups in 2023, Miller took a big step forward the following season. He recorded 23 tackles, four interceptions and seven pass breakups for Mercer in 2024. He also had a blocked kick and recovered a fumble.
That helped lead him to Wyoming.
Miller played in 11 games with seven starts for the Cowboys last season, finishing with 27 tackles, three tackles for loss, five pass breakups and a forced fumble. He earned Honorable Mention All-Mountain West honors.
Now he gets a chance to add to those numbers after spending the first part of the season waiting.
His second game back will also take him somewhere familiar.
Wyoming travels to Fargo this weekend to face North Dakota State, in the Fargo Dome. However, it won’t be his first time there.
He went there with Mercer during the 2024 FCS Playoffs and finished with six tackles and two pass breakups.
He remembers the place being loud.
"The fans, they can get a little rowdy," Miller said. "I remember they were talking when I first, when I was out there warming up. I feel like that turned me up for that game too."
Mercer lost that game, but Miller is hoping for a different result this time around.
"I've been there before, so I feel it isn’t going to be unfamiliar to me," Miller said. "I should have a good game."
A couple of weeks ago, Miller couldn't say for certain when, or if, he would get that opportunity.
All he could do was keep showing up to work out.
"I've just been staying with hope and coming to work every day with a mentality of getting better and staying prepared," Miller said. "That's really the main thing I was doing."
After months of uncertainty, Miller can concentrate on playing football again.
"I'm glad to be back."
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