Q&A with Cam Miller on dealing with adversity and first NFL preseason

Aug 20, 2025 at 08:45 AM

Levi Edwards

Digital Team Reporter

As the Raiders' 2025 draft picks go through their first NFL training camp, Raiders.com's Levi Edwards is sitting down with each player for a Q&A.

Last but not least in this series is sixth-round pick Cam Miller.

Levi Edwards: I also asked Darien Porter this same question. With you also being an Iowa native, what's your Mount Rushmore of athletes from the state?

Cam Miller: "You have to put [former Raiders receiver] Tim Dwight in there, Iowa City guy. Dallas Clark, not sure if he's from Iowa but he played [high school and college football] in Iowa. And then George Kittle and Tyler Linderbaum."

LE: What went into your decision to attend North Dakota State University?

CM: "I was under recruited. I wanted to go to Iowa when I was in high school. It was 10 minutes away from where I grew up. That's where I wanted to go. Their lack of interest motivated me. I got the best opportunity to go to NDSU where all their quarterbacks go to the NFL, the last four of them. That was an opportunity that I couldn't pass."

LE: "What was the most adversity you dealt with in your time at NDSU?"

CM: "I think when I lost the [starting] job after my true freshman year. Going into that year, I think that's the most adversity I had to deal with in college where I had to sit there and watch somebody else lead a football team for eight weeks when I felt like that was my team to lead. And I knew that my opportunity was going to come down the line and I just needed to make the most out of that opportunity. But I think if that didn't happen, I don't think I would be in this situation I'm in today playing in the NFL because that helped mold me and helped me grow tougher and learn how to deal with failure."

LE: Have you had a "Welcome to the NFL" moment in a practice or any of the preseason games yet?

CM: "It was during OTAs when we had a set of four and Maxx Crosby made every single play. And I was standing back there watching and I was like, 'This guy's different.' To see the best to do it at the D-end position is pretty cool to see."

LE: How do you feel the preseason has gone for you so far and how has those reps helped you?

CM: "Any time you can get out there and play football I think helps grow your confidence. You gain experience from that situation so I think any time you can get out there and play, it just helps."

LE: What do you think is your most underrated trait on the football field?

CM: "My toughness. You'd have to break both my legs to get me off the field. And I think no matter how hard I get hit, no matter what happens in a game, I'm going to continue to stand in there and make plays for our offense."

MORE:

Q&A with Cody Lindenberg

Q&A with Tommy Mellott

Q&A with JJ Pegues

Q&A with Caleb Rogers

Q&A with Charles Grant

Q&A with Tonka Hemingway

Q&A with Darien Porter

Q&A with Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Q&A with Jack Bech

Q&A with Ashton Jeanty

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Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) on the field for practice at 2025 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.