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McMillan to headline the newest Hall of Fame class
Raekwon McMillan
Former Liberty County High School star linebacker Raekwon McMillan will be inducted into the Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy of the New England Patriots

After a three-year hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame will induct a new class of honorees.

The class will be enshrined at the annual banquet scheduled for April 27 at 7 p.m., with reception beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Liberty County Complex in Midway.

The class of 2023 is: O.C. Baker, Neal Brown, Raekwon McMillan, Sandy Miller and Warnella Wilder.

Between now and the induction ceremony, the Courier will highlight the members of this year’s class.

The former Liberty County High School football star was the nation’s 2013 Butkus Award winner as the best high school linebacker in the nation. He was rated as a 5-star prospect and named the No. 1 inside linebacker prospect in the nation in 2014. He was a 2013 USA Today first-team all-American and named the 2013 Georgia Defensive Player of the Year.

At Liberty, McMillan had 456 career tackles, averaging 12 per game. He had 159 tackles and 8.5 sacks as a senior, along with 10 fumbles caused and three interceptions. He finished his career as a four-time all-state selection.

McMillan signed with the Ohio State University and played in 41 games, starting 26. He led the team in tackles each of his two years as a starter. For his Buckeyes career, he had 270 tackles, six sacks, one interception, 10 passes defended and two forced fumbles.

As a sophomore, he was named a starter and recorded 119 tackles, the most for a Buckeyes sophomore since 1990. He was named team captain as a junior and was named second-team all-American and first-team all-Big 10 after his sophomore and junior seasons.

As a freshman, he played in all 15 games, helping Ohio State to a Big 10 conference championship and a national championship.

McMillan was chosen in the second round as the 54th pick overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2017 NFL Draft. He signed with the New England Patriots in March 2021 and scores his first NFL touchdown this past season in a Week 14 win over the Arizona Cardinals, a 23-yard fumble return.

He finished the 2022 campaign with 25 solo tackles and a sack.

Tickets for the banquet are $20 and are available at the Liberty County Recreation Department front desk. This year’s ceremony also will include the induction of Eddie Smith, who was unable to attend the ceremony the year in which he was voted in. The 2016 Liberty County High boys basketball state championship team also will be honored at the ceremony.

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