As the NFL draft nears, USA TODAY High School Sports will look back at the high school careers and draft prospects for former American Family Insurance ALL-USA selections. Today’s installment features Ohio State linebacker Raekwon McMillan.
PLAYER PROFILE:
Position: Outside linebacker
High school: Liberty County (Hinesville, Ga.)
ALL-USA history: Named ALL-USA First Team in 2013 as a senior.
College: Ohio State
Height, weight: 6-2, 243
Raekwon McMillan in 2013 (Photo: Tom Lemming)
By the numbers: Reached triple digits in tackles in the last two seasons with 119 as a sophomore and 102 as a junior. Finished with six career sacks. Named a second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten as a junior as a key member of a Buckeyes defense that was ranked sixth nationally.
Draft projection: Round 1/2
Draft positives: Between-the-tackles thumper. Thick and sturdy build that brings a violent level of impact to his hits. Very strong lower body. Produces a very high amount of power on the move and from a standstill. He is a brick wall when ball carriers and blockers alike meet him head on. Has a gravitational pull toward the action.
Cons: Tight hips that are exposed the further in space he gets. Susceptible to pro-level quickness and agility. Won’t be able to run up the seam with athletic tight ends and cannot be trusted to cover backs in space.
What he says: “I’m a captain at Ohio State. Everything we did on defense came through me and I can do the same thing for their program. I’ll never give you a reason to let me go from their team and I’ll always be a leader, never a follower.”
Draft analysis by Dan Shonka, Ourlads.com