2017 NFL Draft: Top 5 Off Ball Linebackers

Raekwon McMillan – 6’2″ 240 lbs. – Ohio State

I know Raekwon well, being a Buckey fan. He’s started nearly the entire time at Ohio State.

At JBB, most of us call him “Baekwon”. He was a 5-star recruit and the no. 1 overall linebacker in the 2014 class.

Strengths:

Chiseled frame, with long arms and muscle from head to toe. Physical play style, and will HIT pulling linemen or fullbacks coming into his gap.

Raekwon attacks blockers with technique, gets his arms out and into the lineman’s steering wheel. Excels in zone coverage, sits and reacts to the QB’s eyes.

Has the speed needed to run with running backs on wheel routes (watch him cover Saquon Barkley as proof). He’s a power hitter than can jolt back ball carriers. Excellent technique in tackling and bringing guys down.

He’s a coaches type of player, always in his gaps, understaning his keys and where to force. Flows and scrapes with the o-line well, showing awareness to the ball.

Leader and quarterback of an NFL type defense the past two years, high football IQ.

Weaknesses:

Lateral agility and sideline to sideline speed is a question. Don’t know if he can play man on passing downs. Goes for here tackles at times and misses, when he should just run the angle to the ball carrier.

Tight hips limits his agility. Needs to learn to go around blocks sometimes and not take everyone on.

Overall:

Raekwon is only 20 years old, and was voted a captain for two years straight, and was a starter for three. That’s worth something.

Plenty of upside, and people tend to overrate his weaknesses. He can be a consummate pro for ten years.

NFL Comparison: Rolando McClain

Film Score: 77

Athleticism Score: 7.2 (NFL average)

Final Score: 77 (Round 1 or 2)