BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Today we continue a new series called Student-Athlete Spotlight, presented by Coca-Cola, that will highlight Samford's outstanding student-athletes. Today's ninth episode features soccer senior defender Taylore Miller.
 
Miller, a native of Orlando, Fla., has been a standout on the Samford defense. She talked a little about what brought her to Samford as a freshman in 2017.
 
"Samford was one of the first schools that I visited, actually," Miller said. "I was going to commit here the day that I visited. I just loved the school, I thought it was beautiful. I remember going home and thinking, everyone is just so nice. I remember watching a practice and being in the locker room with the team and just seeing that the girls were so close and it really was like a family atmosphere.
 
"I talked to my club coach from back home and I said, I want to commit to this school before I leave today," Miller said. "And he said, just wait on other programs, wait to visit other schools, so I did. I actually ended up committing to another school, and I was committed there for about a year, but just through that year, I felt the Lord just saying to me, I'm telling you, Samford is the place for you. And I finally just kind of laid down my pride and committed to Samford and it was the best decision ever."


 
Miller has been a part of three Southern Conference regular-season championship teams, part of a current six-season streak for the program. Miller talked about the sustained success the program has enjoyed.
 
"Coach (Yelton) says it all the time, it's kind of crazy, year-after-year doing so well and just sustaining that level of success," Miller said. "I think it's because we play for something bigger than ourselves. You just don't play for the name on the back of your jersey, you're playing for Samford, you're playing for the girl next to you, you're playing for the girls on the bench, who might not be playing  a lot or even at all, but they're still supporting every single game, cheering loudly, just having such positive attitudes. I think love is the biggest thing. Coach always says before games, it's just another opportunity to show how much we love each other. And I think that's what shows year-after-year, that we love each other and we want to work hard for each other, and we, in humility, value the other girls on the team above ourselves."
 
Miller was named the 2019 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to her on-field success, Miller has been a model student, earning several academic awards as well. She was one of 11 Samford students honored by The Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership for exemplary service, she was a University Ambassador from 2019-2020, and she was a Dean's List student, among many other honors.
 
"I wouldn't be who I am today without Samford," Miller said. "I am really grateful that, in every arena, whether it's academics or sports or ambassadors, I think there have been people who have seen my potential and saw my potential and have just faithfully walked beside me and developed me in all of those things. I'm thankful for that."
 
Miller's senior season was postponed in the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team will now play a spring season. She talked about what an adjustment it has been to play in the spring instead of the fall.
 
"I think the biggest word would be weird, very weird," Miller said of playing in the spring. "But, I think that there's also just a lot of excitement and anticipation. Obviously coming in, thinking we're going to play in the fall and now in the spring, I think we're going to come out of the gates ready to go in the spring, just to do well and play again."
 
Miller is currently enrolled in graduate school at Samford this semester. She talked about what she is studying and her plans for the future.
 
"I started the fast-track Master's of Social Work program here at Samford this semester," Miller said. "My long-term goal is to be the full-time counselor on a church's staff and also do outreach in the community, hopefully helping low-income families and individuals.