— Gabe Miller: Football tight end and defensive end, 2006-2010

At OSU: Miller arrived at OSU from Lake Oswego as a four-star recruit, spending his first three years with the Beavers as a tight end. He fought through two Achilles Tendon ruptures, started five games in 2007 and switched to defensive end for his final two years.As a junior and senior, Miller’s eight sacks ranked second on the team behind only Stephen Paea’s nine. Miller added 13.0 tackles for loss and 67 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. During Miller’s tenure at OSU, the Beavers won two Sun Bowls and the Emerald Bowl.

After OSU: Miller was selected in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he moved to outside linebacker. In a preseason game as a rookie, Miller tore his quadriceps muscle and missed the entire season. He moved back to tight end afterwards when signed to the practice squad for the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears, then switched once more to linebacker with the Washington Redskins. Miller made four tackles in 2014, was released after the season and officially retired in September. This past NFL season was the first year Miller hadn’t played organized football since the fourth grade.

“It’s kind’ve weird. You watch games on Sundays and Saturdays, and you’re jealous,” Miller said. “But at the same time, you think about the grind of practice and constantly staying in shape and your body aching. It’s kind’ve nice sometimes to sit back and have your body feel good.”

Miller also got married during his NFL career; he and his wife Michelle are nearing their three-year anniversary. They started dating their senior year at Lake Oswego High School, both came to OSU and Michelle was on the dance team. Every home OSU game, both performed in Reser Stadium.

“I don’t know if it’s very often couples stay together all throughout college with all the stuff that goes on, especially with football commitments, school and her dance schedule, but we made it work,” Miller said. “A highlight was our senior year when we lived next door to each other. That was pretty awesome. We were never too far apart.”

They dated long distance during the first three years of Miller’s NFL career, which Miller said was “lonely and really weird.” Still, Michelle would visit about once a month, they continued dating and now live together near both sets of parents in Lake Oswego.

Miller, 28, started his post-football career in October shortly after he retired from the NFL in September. Using some networking with mutual friends, he finally utilized his Construction Engineering degree from OSU by being hired as a Project Manager by Perlo Construction.

“By way of a friend of a friend, I got introduced to the owner of Perlo Construction. We sat down for coffee, he offered me the job and I couldn’t pass up the offer,” Miller said. “I’m about five months into the job now and I’m really enjoying it. The work is fun and challenging. I feel like I’m picking it up pretty well. I’m definitely happy where I’m at.”