2017 NFL Draft: Ohio State Raekwon McMillan Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Ohio State’s Raekwon McMillan is a highly thought of linebacker prospect who might be a little over rated.
Raekwon McMillan is a well built defensive prospect who isn’t afraid to work at the line of scrimmage. He does a good job playing with balance as he purses the football. His ability to laterally track the ball allows him to fill holes and running lanes.
He shows good awareness and the instincts to quickly identify the play. McMillan routinely puts himself in good position and is able to work through traffic.
While McMillan is a productive player, he doesn’t jump off the screen as someone who has elite athleticism. His lack of short-area burst and overall explosiveness limit the amount of impact plays he makes.
McMillan makes most of his tackles near the line of scrimmage or several yards down the field. He rarely explodes into the backfield producing tackles for loss. His questionable explosiveness also comes into play when he tries to make tackles along the sideline.
Quicker offensive players can outpace his angles work the edges. He’s able to hide some of these issues with his instincts, but that’ll be tougher at the next level.
The lack of explosion also shows up when McMillan makes a tackle. He tends to catch the ball carrier rather than delivering a pop.
McMillan adds to his overall production with his skills in pass coverage. He does a great job playing with balance which allows him to drop in coverage and react. His awareness helps him identify developing routes while keeping his head on a swivel.
He does a good job anticipating throws and breaking on the pass-catcher to register pass breakups. The ability to hold up in coverage is important for a linebacker because it means he can stay on the field in passing situations.
Current Draft Position: 3rd Round