Raekwon McMillan

A two-year starter at Ohio State, McMillan played primarily as the middle linebacker in the Buckeyes? 4-3 base scheme, also seeing snaps outside, leaving Columbus with 275 career tackles. A five-star linebacker recruit out of high school, McMillan was rated as the No. 1 prep player in the talent-rich state of Georgia and narrowed his college choice to Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State, choosing the Buckeyes due to a ?special bond? with the program. He was a back-up throughout Ohio State?s 2014 National Title season, but saw significant snaps on defense and collected 54 tackles, 2.5 sacks and his only career interception, earning various Freshman All-American honors. McMillan became a sophomore starter at MIKE linebacker in 2015 (13 starts) and led the team with 119 tackles, 1.5 sacks and four passes defended, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors. He again started all 13 games in 2016 as a junior and led the Buckeyes with 102 tackles, adding 2.0 tackles for loss and four passes defended to earn spots on the First Team All-Big Ten and numerous All-American teams. McMillan looks the part and diagnoses quickly to read/react, but his ordinary open-field athleticism leads to missed opportunities. The biggest issue is his undeveloped shed skills, failing to anticipate road blocks and routinely getting stuck or slowed, preventing him from making more plays. Overall, McMillan has the necessary traits to earn a starting MIKE linebacker role in the NFL, but needs to improve his take-on skills and coverage ability to keep that job.

strengths

Looks the part of a MIKE linebacker with a stout, muscular build. Physical striker with instant stopping power. Squares up the ballcarrier, launches with low pad level and brings his feet to finish. Not shy taking on offensive linemen and matching their physicality. Adequate playing range for the position to make plays outside the hashes. Mirrors well at the line of scrimmage vs. the run, trusting his eyes. Instinctive in zone coverage to float, read the eyes of the quarterback and obstruct passing lanes. Consistent hustle and brings the same intensity each snap. Named a team captain after the conclusion of the 2015 season. Productive starting experience, leading OSU with triple-digit tackles each of the past two seasons.

nfl comparison

Rey Maualuga, Cincinnati Bengals ? Neither are supreme athletes, but both have the power traits and vision to be physical downhill run defenders.

weaknesses

Struggles to control his balance in space, hurting his ability to break down in the open field. Often overpursues when attacking at an angle and lacks the agility to recover in time. Overly patient in the hole, allowing the ballcarrier to set up moves. Tunnel vision and doesn?t anticipate/locate blockers when moving laterally. Struggles to keep himself clean from blocks and late to detach himself. Arrives with power, but doesn?t consistently jolt or use leverage at the point of attack. Not a strong blitzer and too easily slowed at contact. Needs to calm his feet and better understand his surroundings in coverage. Doesn?t have the top-end speed to hold up on wheel or downfield routes.

McMillan is one of six from his recruiting class who enrolled at Ohio State in January 2014

he was the nation's top-rated inside linebacker prospect by ESPN and Rivals and he was chosen as the 2013 national high school Butkus Award winner as the top linebacker in the country

a five-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports, McMillan was rated as an overall Top 20 performer nationally by those three services

a four-year starter for coach Kirk Warner at Liberty County H.S., McMillan accumulated 456 tackles and 10 forced fumbles during his career

as a senior he totalled 159 tackles, 35.5 tackles-for-loss and 8.5 sacks for his 8-3 squad, and he also rushed for nearly 700 yards on offense

was named the Georgia Region 3 AAAA defensive player of the year and a first-team all-state pick after his senior season

a two-time Savannah Morning News player of the year

named a first-team Parade and USA Today All-American following his 2013 senior season

recorded five tackles in the 2014 Under Armour All-American game

Is the son of Monica and Rafael Washington.

2016

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
7.0	2.0	102.0	0.0	4.0	2.0	49.0