Hayden Miller, the top miler in last year’s recruiting class, will transfer to Texas A&M after spending her freshman season at the University of Florida.
Miller set a pair of personal-best times at February’s SEC Championships, placing fifth in the 1650-yard freestyle (15:59.21) and eighth in the 500 free (4:41.15). Her mile time made her the eighth-fastest Gator in program history. She qualified for the NCAA Championships in both events, but added time in each. Less than two weeks later, Miller entered her name into the NCAA transfer portal along with six other Florida swimmers.
“I am so excited to announce that I am going to continue my athletic and academic career at Texas A&M!” Miller wrote on Instagram earlier this week. “I am forever grateful for the Gator swim and dive family and the support they have given me throughout this year. I am so blessed for this opportunity and am excited to start this next chapter of my life. Gig‘em! 🤍👍🏼”
The move brings the Houston native closer to home with College Station less than two hours away.
Last season, the Texas A&M women placed 9th in the SEC with about half as many points as conference champion Florida. Transferring within the same conference previously meant athletes had to sit out a year, but the SEC updated its policy in 2021 to align with the rest of the Power Five.
The Aggies have had a few down years recently, but head coach Steve Bultman has a long history of producing Olympians such as Alia Atkinson (Jamaica), Beryl Gastaldello (France), and Sydney Pickrem (Canada). Last season, Miller would have been the top miler at Texas A&M, nearly 13 seconds quicker than junior Abby Grottle, who transferred in 2021 from Pitt.
Miller was the #12 recruit in the class of 2022 and the top miler in the group. She is also a member of the 2022-23 U.S. Junior National Team in the 1500 free after winning the event at Junior Nationals last August in 16:28.28, a top-50 time in the girls’ 17-18 national age group (NAG) rankings.
Miller traveled as a member of the U.S. Junior National Team that competed in the 2021 FINA World Cup Series, racing in Berlin and Budapest. She finished 4th in the 800 free at both meets.
Miller was also the 2022 Texas High School State Champion (6A – big schools) in both the 200- and 500-yard freestyles.
Maybe she can teach Jimbo Fisher how to swim a mile, and he can swim miles away from the campus! A&M has become the laughing joke in the SEC, and its time we see a new coach ASAP. Can’t bring in the best class of all time and underperform the way we did. The standard should be CHAMPIONSHIPS. Instead it’s NIL deals and doing the bare minimum. Thanks a lot Jimbo, thanks a hecking lot!!!
A&M is a horseback riding school