The Morning Episode 12 of The Morning Lift broke format in the best way. Lauren Rutan and Brendon Sadler sat down with two brothers at once — Milan Parris, a top-ranked wide receiver heading to the University of Miami, and his stepbrother Tae, who records under the name EasyBayTae and is building a lane in music out of Akron, Ohio. If you've been following the Milan Parris Miami football recruiting story, you know the broad strokes. What you probably don't know is everything underneath it — the decommitment, the torn hand before a career-defining game, and the brother who turned down a basketball scholarship to chase bars instead of buckets.
This episode isn't a typical training breakdown. It's a family story about two completely different crafts — Division 1 football and independent music — built on the exact same foundation: discipline, competition, and showing up for each other without ego. Milan is heading into a pivotal year under Mario Cristobal at Miami. Tae is carving his own path after walking away from a Notre Dame College basketball commitment to bet on himself in the studio.
In this recap, you'll get the real story behind Milan's recruitment — including why he nearly ended up at Iowa State — a look inside his actual Miami workout routine, how EasyBayTae built a following before he ever dropped a project, and the mindset lessons both brothers say actually matter more than the highlight reels.
From Akron to the U: Milan Parris's Miami Football Recruiting Story
Milan's recruiting path wasn't a straight line, and he said that himself. He struggled with academics early on, which slowed his recruitment despite flashing big-time talent. His breakout moment came at a May combine at Walsh Jesuit after a growth spurt — he went from 6'1 to 6'4 in a matter of months — and walked away with seven offers in a single day, including Wisconsin and Purdue.
The real turning point came junior year. He committed to Iowa State under Matt Campbell after a visit that "seemed like a movie." But in the back of his mind, he knew something could change. It did. In a game against Canton North, Milan ripped his hand open in warmups and had to get stitched up ten minutes before kickoff. He went out and scored four touchdowns anyway. The following week, Miami offered — through Kevin Beard, the same coach who'd first scouted him as a freshman and had previously coached Milan's cousin, Daylon Stovall, at Toledo.
From there, Oregon and other programs jumped in, and Milan eventually decommitted from Iowa State to sign with Miami — something he says was handled respectfully enough that he and the Iowa State staff still follow each other on Instagram. It's a textbook example of how modern recruiting actually works: relationships built years in advance, a performance under pressure, and a decision made for family and future, not hype.
Inside Milan Parris's Daily Miami Workout Routine
If you're wondering what to train for if you want to play wide receiver at the Power Four level, Milan laid out his actual Miami workout routine in detail. Mornings start with a check-in between 5:30 and 6:30, followed by position meetings he credits Coach Kevin Beard for running tight and efficient — "it'll be a small amount of time, but you're getting a lot of knowledge." After meetings, offense and defense lift separately, followed by Player-Led Practices (PLPs), then access to the indoor facility during the summer window when there's no school on the schedule.
The bigger lesson isn't the schedule itself — it's the standard behind it. Milan referenced Cristobal's mantra directly: it's not "the U is back," it's "the U is here." That new-standard mentality is baked into every rep, every meeting, every recovery session. For young receivers trying to mimic that work ethic, the takeaway is less about copying a specific lift and more about buying into structure, discipline, and showing up locked in every single day — even in the offseason.
EasyBayTae's Journey From D2 Basketball Commit to Independent Artist
Tae's story runs in the opposite direction of his brother's — away from a guaranteed roster spot and toward total uncertainty. He committed to play basketball at Notre Dame College, took his visits, told everyone at his graduation party that was the plan. But in the back of his mind, he already knew. "Even if I went and scored 20 points a game at that school, who really cares right now?"
He'd been quietly building on BandLab since freshman year, recording in his grandma's basement with Milan watching. By senior year, during the COVID-affected season that gutted his recruitment and changed his draw as a basketball player, Tae was already building real connections — including studio time with an artist signed to Trippie Redd. When he told his father he wanted to walk away from basketball for music, he expected a fight. Instead, his dad backed him completely, and that one vote of confidence is what pushed him to fully commit.
Tae is upfront that his sound is "an acquired taste," and he's fine with that. "I'm never trying to portray something I'm not," he said, pointing to one unreleased song, "2002 Part 2," that got so personal while writing it that he started crying — something that had never happened to him with music before.
The Brotherhood Behind Two Different Careers
The most striking part of this episode isn't football or music — it's how these two talk about each other. Tae is five years older, met Milan when Milan was six, and has never once referred to him as a "stepbrother." Milan said when Tae scores, he feels like he scored too. Tae said when Milan drops a pass, he feels like he dropped it.
That dynamic carried them through real adversity. When their father passed away, Tae — living across the country at the time — stepped in as a father figure for Milan from a distance, keeping him on track through high school. Both brothers independently named that as the moment that tested them most, and both credit their bond for getting through it "arm in arm."
Navigating Insecurity, Pressure, and NIL in Today's Recruiting World
Milan was candid about caring too much what people thought during his slower recruiting stretch — before Miami, before the offers stacked up. "I felt like I was faking myself for a whole bunch of people I didn't even need to fake myself for," he admitted, calling it jealousy and envy he's since learned to tune out.
Tae's answer to the same question was almost the inverse — he says he's past being embarrassed by anything, pointing to literally throwing up on stage during a bad early show and later crowd-surfing through a packed one. Both perspectives matter for anyone chasing a public career: insecurity doesn't disappear, you just build enough reps to stop letting it steer you.
Brendon also used the moment to drop real talk for parents listening — comparing today's youth sports landscape to a business, where NIL money can hit a 16-year-old athlete before they've even graduated. The message: commitment has to be real and early, not something tested in one-month trial runs.
Key Takeaways
- Milan Parris's Miami football recruiting path proves relationships matter more than rankings — his Miami offer came from a coach who scouted him as a freshman years earlier.
- A torn hand and four touchdowns in the same game is the kind of performance-under-pressure story that actually shifts a recruiting process.
- Milan's Miami workout routine runs on early check-ins, tight position meetings, separate offense/defense lifts, and PLPs — structure over flash.
- EasyBayTae walked away from a Division 2 basketball commitment because the passion wasn't there, proving you can respect an opportunity and still turn it down.
- Building an independent music career can start with free tools — Tae's first tracks came from BandLab in a basement, not a studio deal.
- Insecurity doesn't vanish with success; both brothers say it's managed through reps, maturity, and tuning out outside noise.
- Family competitiveness and support aren't opposites — Milan and Tae prove you can push each other hard without a trace of jealousy.
Want the full story in their own words — including the eBay Jordan collection regret and who actually wins in 2K? Hit play on the full episode and subscribe to The Morning Lift so you don't miss the next conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What college football team is Milan Parris committed to?
Milan Parris is a wide receiver committed to the University of Miami, where he plays under head coach Mario Cristobal and receivers coach Kevin Beard — the same coach who first scouted him as a high school freshman.
How did Milan Parris get recruited by Miami?
Milan was originally committed to Iowa State before Miami entered the picture. After a standout senior season performance — including four touchdowns in a game where he'd torn his hand open in warmups — Kevin Beard, who had just taken the Miami job, offered him. Milan ultimately decommitted from Iowa State to sign with the Hurricanes.
Who is EasyBayTae?
EasyBayTae, born Tae Perry, is an independent rapper from Akron, Ohio, and the stepbrother of Miami wide receiver Milan Parris. He was previously a highly regarded basketball player before walking away from a Division 2 commitment to pursue music full time.
How do you become an independent music artist like EasyBayTae?
Tae started recording for free on BandLab as a teenager, built relationships with established artists in his area, and leaned on social media to build an audience before ever formally releasing music — proof that you don't need a label deal to start.
What does a typical Miami football player's workout routine look like?
Based on Milan's description, a typical day includes an early morning check-in, position meetings, a structured lift split between offense and defense, and Player-Led Practices, plus facility access for extra work during the summer offseason.
Why did Milan Parris decommit from Iowa State?
Milan said the decision came down to doing what was best for himself, his family, and his future after Miami entered the picture following his senior season breakout. He described the process as respectful on both sides, noting he still stays in touch with the Iowa State staff.
Conclusion
Milan Parris and EasyBayTae prove that grind doesn't have one uniform — it looks like 5:30 a.m. check-ins and position meetings for one brother, and basement recording sessions and open-mic nerves for the other. What ties the Milan Parris Miami football recruiting story to EasyBayTae's independent music rise is the same thing that ties every guest on this show together: discipline, patience through the slow stretches, and people in your corner who want to see you win as much as you want it for yourself.
Press play on Episode 12 to hear the full, unfiltered conversation — including the brothers' most embarrassing stories, their take on money versus legacy, and why neither one of them feels an ounce of pressure chasing two completely different dreams.
Listen to the Episode
Catch the full conversation with Milan Parris and EasyBayTae on Episode 12 of The Morning Lift podcast, available now at the episode link. Subscribe and follow the show on Instagram and TikTok for new episodes every week.