Former Liberty County High School standout linebacker Raekwon McMillan recently was named to the 2014 Parade Magazine All-American Football Team First-Team Defense.
The magazine will be inserted into Sunday’s edition of the Coastal Courier.
According to the article, Parade Magazine contributor Brian McLaughlin, who also covers recruiting for the college-football website Saturday Down South, considered all-state teams, state player of the year honors and statistics, as well as his own observations. When it came to defensive players, McLaughlin said he looked for top athletes who could change games with interceptions, sacks and tackles for loss.
“They need to have had a big senior year,” he said, “and we really want kids who are heading places.”
McMillan was ranked No. 1 among the nation’s senior inside linebackers by Rivals.com and ESPN. He verbally committed to Ohio State on Dec. 16 and was enrolled and in class in Columbus by Jan. 8. By enrolling early, McMillan is expected to join the Buckeyes in spring practices.
McMillan tallied 456 total tackles in his time for the Panthers, including 75 for loss. He had a career 16.5 sacks, with 94 yards lost, and hurried opposing quarterbacks 24 times. He caused 10 fumbles, recovering two for 63 yards. McMillan also was a serious threat on offense, posting career marks of 1,121 all-purpose yards, 18 pancake blocks, four receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns and 1,009 yards and 17 touchdowns on 141 carries.
On Monday, McMillan was named the defensive captain of the 2014 Sports Illustrated All-Name Team. McMillan has said he was named after a member of the Wu-Tang Clan, an hip-hop group from New York City.