ONTARIO — Bodpegn Miller wanted a place to call home.
The former Ohio State receiver found it in Seattle.
An Ontario graduate, Miller recently signed to continue his collegiate football career with the University of Washington. He spent one season in Columbus before entering the transfer portal earlier this month.
“I just wanted to go to a place where I don’t have to transfer again,” Miller said early Wednesday afternoon. “This can be my forever home.
“I fell in love with the city and just felt like I belonged there.”
Miller earned an Ohio State scholarship offer from then offensive coordinator Brian Hartline in June of 2024 after a sensational camp workout in Columbus. He enrolled early as the Buckeyes won the national championship in January of 2025, but didn’t see any action last fall.
When Hartline accepted the head coaching job at South Florida in early-December, several of his receiver recruits, including former five-star Quincy Porter, hit the transfer portal.
Miller was the last to find a new home.
“I was comfortable with the timeframe,” Miller said. “I wanted to take my time and explore all of my options.”
Washington, coached by Jedd Fisch, was 9-4 last year and beat Boise State in the Bucked Up LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk. The Huskies tied for seventh in the Big Ten at 5-4.
“I really like the coaching staff at Washington,” Miller said. “(Receivers coach) Kevin Cummings is a great coach.
“They have a great history of developing big receivers and sending them to the (NFL) and I thought, ‘Why can’t that be me?’ ”
Washington’s top receiver last year, junior Denzel Boston, declared for the upcoming NFL Draft after catching 62 passes for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. Sophomore Dezmen Roebuck is UW’s top returning receiver. He caught 42 passes for 560 yards and seven TDs last fall.
Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. is one of the Big Ten’s top returning passers. He completed 246-of-354 attempts for 3,065 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Miller will enroll in classes for the spring quarter. He will compete for playing time immediately.
A year spent in the ultra-competitive OSU receiver room certainly won’t hurt.
“I definitely learned a lot, being in the best receiver room in the country,” Miller said. “You’re going against the best competition in the country.
“I’ll take what I learned there and go to Washington to become the best version of myself.”