Raekwon McMillan took to the middle of the field at Donell Woods Stadium on Friday night. This time, he didn’t have his helmet and shoulder pads on.
Instead, he brought a very big check for the school’s football team.
The former Liberty County High School Panthers standout and current member of the New England Patriots graced his alma mater with a $42,000 check to go toward new weight room equipment.
Having the ability to give back to his school means “everything” to McMillan, he said.
“This is where I was born and raised,” he said.
“We are so very proud of our graduates and always welcome them back when they are able to come,” said Dr. Franklin Perry, superintendent of Liberty County schools. “We thank Raekwon for this more than generous gift and hope he gets the chance to come back again to see these young men play.”
Football “changed my life,” McMillan added. He said he hopes his donation helps the kids in the community.
McMillan reportedly suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in May. He was placed on injured reserve in May.
The Patriots also reportedly have signed McMillan for the 2024 season, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. McMillan, who missed the 2021 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, is rehabilitating and is eager to get back on the field next year.
“It’s going pretty good right now,” he said of his recovery. “I’ve got to two to three more months of rehab and then I’m back to running full speed. I’m ready to go. That’s all I ever wanted to do, play NFL football.”
McMillan is one of four Liberty County natives to have been a member of the Patriots. Former Bradwell Institute star Gary Guyton played four seasons with the Patriots, signing as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech. Ulrick John, who played at Bradwell and later at Georgia State, signed as a free agent but did not appear in a game.
McMillan and former Bradwell standout running back Kevin Harris, drafted out of South Carolina, are on the Patriots roster now.
To McMillan, it’s simple why the Patriots target players who grew up in Liberty County.
“It’s hard-working kids from Liberty County,” he said.
The Patriots-Liberty County connection hasn’t come up for conversation with Harris, McMillan said. But the two may have something to talk about this week – the Bradwell-Liberty County game.
“You know what’s going down,” McMillan said.