How an unverified Kolton Miller account fooled the NFL and caused a stir over Trump
Kolton Miller doesn't use his Twitter account often.
Yet, the newest Raider is getting all sorts of attention – both positive and negative – on the social media site.
Oakland selected the offensive lineman with the 15th pick in the NFL draft Thursday. He made a rare visit to Twitter to celebrate the occasion.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Been some time since I've tweeted but what better time than now! So hyped to join <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RaiderNation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RaiderNation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RAIDERS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Raiders</a>. Check out my first <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a> trading card with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PaniniInstant?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PaniniInstant</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLDraft?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLDraft</a> <a href="https://t.co/fBNCGtOWZb">https://t.co/fBNCGtOWZb</a> <a href="https://t.co/bsHNGCI3Xd">pic.twitter.com/bsHNGCI3Xd</a></p>— Kolton (@kolton_miller) <a href="https://twitter.com/kolton_miller/status/989696604289536000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
"Been some time since I've tweeted but what better time than now! So hyped to join #RaiderNation," he tweeted.
But why so much negativity surrounding Miller? An unverified Twitter account bearing his name (@KoltonMiller) and a profile photo of Miller in his UCLA uniform gained wide attention Thursday.
He received congratulations from the official NFL Twitter account, as well as Raiders offensive tackle Kelechi Osemele.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/KoltonMiller?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KoltonMiller</a> welcome to the room baby!!! Excited to work with you </p>— Kelechi Osemele (@KOseven0) <a href="https://twitter.com/KOseven0/status/989687448387993601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">With the #15 overall pick in the 2018 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLDraft?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLDraft</a>, the <a href="https://twitter.com/RAIDERS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RAIDERS</a> select <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KoltonMiller?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KoltonMiller</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/KoltonMiller?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KoltonMiller</a>)! <br><br>: NFLN/FOX/ESPN <a href="https://t.co/HtzVM9hipk">pic.twitter.com/HtzVM9hipk</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/989682121026437121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The user played up the news during the draft.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Blessed to be picked #15 in this years 2018 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nfldraft?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nfldraft</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RaiderNation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RaiderNation</a> can’t wait to get out there and grind!</p>— Kolton Miller (@KoltonMiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/KoltonMiller/status/989683709971456000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Some people seemed upset about tweets supporting President Donald Trump.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here’s your new OT <a href="https://t.co/Ka1xPjA19X">pic.twitter.com/Ka1xPjA19X</a></p>— Marcus (@M_G0NZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/M_G0NZ/status/989696825975164929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kolton Miller begins with a K<br>KKK begins with a K<br><br>The Raiders just drafted a white supremacist.</p>— Barry McCockiner (@Sp0rtsTalkJo3) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sp0rtsTalkJo3/status/989682310458068994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
But a quick look at the account's past retweets show "happy birthday" wishes on Nov. 3, 2017, a day after the unverified @KoltonMiller tweeted "18 tomorrow". The 22-year-old former UCLA player's birthday is Sept. 2.
The account, created in February 2010, had nearly 2,000 followers as of 9:30 p.m., while the verified @Kolton_Miller account had about 1,200 – and only eight tweets despite being active since November 2013.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr wasn't fooled. Carr found Miller's real account and welcomed his new teammate.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/kolton_miller?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kolton_miller</a> welcome to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RaiderNation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RaiderNation</a> bro! Haha I guess this is the correct account! </p>— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) <a href="https://twitter.com/derekcarrqb/status/989706373947518976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This story was originally published April 26, 2018 at 10:03 PM with the headline "How an unverified Kolton Miller account fooled the NFL and caused a stir over Trump."