Stephen Edelson

@steveedelsonAPP

The symmetry of it all is not lost on Miles Shuler.

How could it be for the former Long Branch High School star, looking to carve a niche for himself in a place where the memory of the greatest Green Wave footballer of them all, Sam Mills, is omnipresent?

From the massive statue of Mills outside Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, to a “Keep Pounding’’ mantra derived from an emotional pregame speech Mills delivered as an assistant coach dying of colon cancer, to Sam Mills III, the Panthers’ assistant defensive line coach, the legacy of No. 51 lives on.

And it’s under that backdrop that Shuler, a former NJSIAA 100-meter champion and standout high school quarterback, is trying to make the roster of the defending NFC champions as a receiver and returner.

“It’s a surreal thing. A surreal situation,’’ said the 5-10 Shuler. “Being from the same city that Sam Mills is from. Him being really big in this community and what he did for this football organization and for the city of Charlotte, and him being one of the few from Long Branch to make it to the NFL, and me trying to do it now — it’s really special for me.’’

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But while it helps push Shuler, an undrafted free agent out of Northwestern, his primary focus remains on using his blazing speed and work ethic to catch the attention of the coaching staff.

It hasn’t happened in the first two preseason games, but Shuler’s been making strides on the practice field, catching several touchdown passes in recent practices.

“It’s all about believing in yourself, and I have to believe in myself and my abilities,’’ he said. “Now it’s just a matter of showing it. I’ve been able to do that so far, so it’s going good.

“For me, it’s about being able to take the top off the defenses and make plays. I scored a touchdown in the red zone recently, so I’m showing them that I know this playbook and that I’m a smart player. But I’ve got gifts, too, and I’ve got talent. And I have to show all that any opportunity I get.’’

The fact that Shuler’s in this situation at all is a testament to his perseverance.

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He began his college career at Rutgers, playing receiver for two seasons before transferring to Northwestern. In all, he played for four offensive coordinators and five receiver coaches while trying to fit in amid an array of different offensive philosophies.

The Giants had Shuler in for a tryout during rookie mini-camp shortly after the draft but did not offer him a contract.

He was subsequently invited to the Panthers’ mini-camp, where the team saw enough to give him a chance.

“They’ve been plugging me in at different positions to see what I can do well and what I need to work on,’’ Shuler said. “They try to see what you can do, and based off what you do the best, they’re going to try to put you in those situations.

“The offense most definitely fits my style. There are a lot of short passes, opportunities for me to catch the ball and run with it and make plays, along with the deep shots that they have in this offense. So I feel like it’s a great fit from that perspective.’’

Working against Shuler is the fact that the Panthers are loaded at receiver, with veterans such as Ted Ginn Jr. and talented young players including Kelvin Benjamin, who caught 73 passes in 2014 before missing the entire 2015 season with a knee injury.

Then again, what were the odds that Sam Mills, a 5-9 linebacker who was teaching school when he went to try out for the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars, would become a Pro Bowler in the NFL and a foundation player for the Panthers franchise?

“It’s been an experience like no other,’’ added Shuler, who keeps his head down and pushes forward, doing everything in his power to keep his dream alive.

Staff writer Stephen Edelson is an Asbury Park Press columnist: sedelson@gannettnj.com



