Irish Hosting Under-The-Radar 2021 OL Harisen Miller

Matt McChesney knows players in the area who could benefit from training at his Six Zero Strength & Fitness facility in Centennial, Colo., but for whatever reason, they can’t make it.

“There are dudes literally 15 minutes down the road here in Aurora who are really good players who don’t have time to get over to the gym and that’s why they don’t train,” McChesney says skeptically.

So, you’ll understand why he has such respect for Harisen Miller‍, a 2021 offensive lineman from Tennessee – yes that Tennessee – who trains with McChesney.

“He’s one of my distance kids,” says McChesney, who trains some kids remotely via video teleconference.

“I vet my distance guys about as hard as you can.”

McChesney, who played both offensive and defensive line for the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos, isn’t crazy about the methods of a lot of recruiting services that claim to help prospects, when in reality many times, they’re selling dreams to kids with little or no chance of achieving them while the services often aren’t in position to deliver anyway.

“I just think it’s a very lazy way to do things, so if I’m going to criticize it openly, I need to make sure I’m not repeating it,” McChesney offers. “I vet my guys really, really hard that I work with from distance.

“One thing that attracted me to Harisen besides his size and natural ability is that his father is a lifelong military man and they have roots in Colorado, so they’re always flying out here.”

Miller has already made two trips out to Colorado to work with McChesney with more planned.

“He’s going to come out this summer for a month and work with me all month,” says McChesney. “I’ve got an eye for talent and Harisen has all of the tools.”

In addition to those physical gifts, McChesney loves the attitude that leads Miller to putting in work whether in Tennessee or Colorado.

“He’s willing to sacrifice his time as a young man and wants to spend his time in my gym getting barked at at 5 a.m., doing hard work and knee-bending exercises and flexibility and tape,” McChesney says.

It’s not just time Miller sacrifices either. He pays for the training with his allowance.

“His father, Chad, makes Harisen do everything,” says McChesney. “Harisen has grown up quick and this kid is so under the radar, I love it. I love it because he’s going to blow up.”

Miller will be at Notre Dame’s Junior Day this weekend.

“He’s going to Notre Dame this week,” says McChesney. “He’s going to A&M. He’s going to Kentucky. He’s already visited Memphis and a couple places last year as a sophomore. He’ll be at Tennessee.

“He’s got a lot on horizon and he’s got a lot to live up to. He’s got a lot of work to do. I’m really excited for that kid. I think he’s going to blow up and be a really good prospect and player for a long time.”

McChesney says Miller reminds him of another prospect who will also be in South Bend, 2020 Colorado lineman Reece Atteberry.

“Harisen reminds me so much of a young Reece,” says McChesney. “Harisen is two years younger than Reece from an age perspective. He’s only a year behind him in school because Harisen is a very young to-be-junior. He should only be a sophomore, so he’s definitely a redshirt candidate.”

The 6-foot-4, 280-pounder figures to be an interior guy in college.

“He’s playing tackle now, but I think he’s more of a mauler guard/center at the next level,” McChesney says.

The Hillwood High School standout may not be ranked among the top linemen in the country yet, although he may be in the future. Either way, McChesney doesn’t believe stars tell the whole story anyway.

“I’ve seen five-star players who have zero work ethic and are gone and never play,” he says. “I’ve seen preferred walk-ons who no one said could play turn into the best players on the field and it happens constantly.

“I don’t really care about the stars. It’s nice. It’s cool to get recognition, but I do a good job identifying talent and Harisen can play.”

Miller has the length, flexibility and frame along with the intangibles to succeed.

“Harisen’s work ethic and his desire to improve, his foot speed, his length,” McChesney says. “He was home-schooled his whole life. Last year was his first year in a structured high school and his first year in a structured football program.

“When I look at Harisen, I say, ‘Man, if he does things the right way and he buys into a program that works like mine, the sky is the limit on how good this kid can be.’ He just keeps improving.”