Freshman Kelton Miller hasn’t always been able to identify himself as a Sooner.

Endless moves as a child left Miller with only one way to identify himself: as a rugby player. Growing up in the Midwest, however, where rugby isn’t exactly the most popular sport, he had to learn the game on his own.

It didn’t come easy.

But since his father, Stacy Miller, considers rugby an important aspect of his own life, Miller’s experience and knowledge grew that much more. Stacy Miller still plays the game today at age 50, and coaches the Mustang Area Rugby Club.

“I think it’ll be similar for him,” Stacy Miller said. “When he can’t play anymore, he’ll coach.”

Miller’s challenges began as a teenager, when he was forced to meet new people at four different high schools.

“It was definitely hard saying goodbye to friends and meeting new friends every year,” he said. “Although it definitely helped me to become a stronger person.”

Throughout each move, Miller hung on to the one thing that never changed: his love of rugby. In each new location, Miller would do whatever it would take to play rugby, including starting two rugby clubs in both Mustang and Bartlesville.

His father said when his son was younger, he announced, “I’m a rugby player, and I want to be playing rugby.”

It was a memorable quote that would shape Miller’s actions throughout his high school and college careers.

Rugby resolution

As Miller graduated high school and moved on to Oklahoma State, he was presented with an opportunity to play Division I football via scholarship.

He turned it down.

He continued doing what he knew best, playing rugby. Although he was happy, he didn’t feel like OSU was his home.

“I just didn’t feel like that was where I should be,” Miller said. “It just didn’t feel right.”

Accustomed to change, Miller followed his gut and made the decision to transfer to OU, where he joined the rugby team.

At OU, he has had the opportunity to play with the club team, which is nationally ranked in the top 25.

“His play has stepped up; he had to work his way up,” head coach Kenneth Forehand said. “That’s how it is here. But he plays at such a high level.”

Miller’s dedication to the sport is finally starting to pay off. He was invited to try out for the national under-20s rugby team and made the squad.

“He has skills, knowledge, determination, discipline and work ethic,” Stacy Miller said.

Success on a national level

It’s a good thing Miller is accustomed to change, because the next stop on his rugby map will be across the globe.

“As a 1990-born player playing for a 1989 U.S. team, it has been difficult, competition-wise, due to me playing up a year,” Miller said “But I have been selected as a reserve player for the 2009 Junior World Trophy in Kenya. Although it will [impact] my school work and finals, it is going to be an experience I can’t pass up.”

At the moment, Miller is competing for the starting inside center position, but he’ll likely serve as a reserve player.

His goal is to serve his team to the best of his ability.

“We have former [OU] players that have gone on to play in Spain professionally. There is a lot of opportunity in the sport right now,” Forehand said. “And [Miller] has an opportunity to do that”.

Now, the freshman who spent most of his childhood moving from high school to high school, will continue moving.

Although Miller will have yet another place to call home as he spends time in Kenya this summer, he will have rugby as one constant in his life.

Miller said no matter where he ends up, he knows he’ll have people that will have his back.

“Any where you go, rugby mates will accept you no matter what,” Miller said. “It’s almost like a world wide fraternity. When I lived in California the Russian army team stayed at our house for an entire week, and we showed them hospitality just as we would expect from them.”