When Mat Miller qualified for the NCAA Tournament as both a freshman and sophomore it appeared he was well on the way to becoming an All-American and joining the elite list of Navy wrestlers to achieve that status.
However, Miller's career trajectory changed dramatically during the 2014 preseason when he suffered a severe knee injury. The Edgewood native suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament while sparring with assistant coach Lloyd Rogers. While the knee gave out as the result of an aggressive foot sweep, it is believed the knee was damaged about a week earlier when Miller went down awkwardly while wrestling with one of the heavyweights.