2017 NFL Draft: Expectations for Ohio State Buckeyes as rookies
By Alec Hartman
Defensive leader Raekwon McMillan was the second Buckeye drafted in the second round. McMillan was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 54th overall pick during the 2017 NFL Draft.
The topic of discussion for the Buckeyes always seems to land on the offensive side of the ball. This is because there always seems to be something gone awry in one area or another with the offense, but that is never the case with the defense.
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In terms of consistency, the Buckeyes’ defense is always on point which is why they tend to stay out of popular discussion. They let the numbers do the talking. According to CFBstats.com, the Buckeyes’ defense ranked sixth in total defense last season.
Raekwon McMillan would be the one to thank for the Bucks’ cumulative greatness on the defensive side. McMillan has been a leader on the field for the Buckeyes for several seasons. He served as the lead defensive signal caller at middle linebacker and was the heart of their defense.
McMillan never took a game off or a single play for that matter. He was one of those relentless and unstoppable forces that every offense had to figure out how to deal with. His in-game intelligence coupled with an endless motor makes him a valuable player for any program.
The Miami Dolphins have been looking to bulk up their defense since the team signed star defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh in 2015. This was further evidenced by their drafting of cornerback Xavian Howard in the second round in 2016 and drafting linebacker Charles Harris in the first round this year. The Dolphins also went ahead and picked up linebacker Kiko Alonso.
Miami will benefit from McMillan’s quickness and intelligence. McMillan is a well seasoned player with plenty of experience, who will compete at its highest level from the start.