McMillan Named a Butkus Award Finalist – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 24, 2015
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State sophomore linebacker Raekwon McMillan has been named one of five finalists for the 2015 Butkus Award, awarded each year to the best linebacker in college football. He is going for his second Butkus, as he claimed the high school Butkus Award in 2013 as a senior at Liberty Country High School in Hinesville, Ga.
McMillan is in his first year as the starter at middle linebacker for the Buckeyes and has been instrumental in leading a Silver Bullet defense that has allowed just 14.1 points per game – second fewest in the FBS – and only 10.2 points since week 7, the fewest in the FBS. Overall, Ohio State ranks No. 8 in the FBS in total defense (298.0 ypg). He leads the team and is third in the Big Ten with 9.5 tackles per game (105 total) and has 4.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks, five QBH and three PBUs on the year.
McMillan has recorded at least seven tackles in 10 of 11 games this season, including three games with 14 or more. He had his best game statistically with a career-high 16 tackles in the win over Western Michigan. In that game he also added one sack and a QBH. In the road win at Illinois, McMillan recorded 14 tackles, 2.0 TFL, a half sack and a fumble recovery. He added another 14-tackle game in the road win at Indiana, helping to limit Jordan Howard, who is No. 7 in the NCAA in rushing this season, to a then-season low 34 yards.
Two Buckeyes have won the award in previous years: Andy Katzenmoyer in 1997 and James Laurinaitis in 2007.
2015 Butkus Award Finalists
Leonard Floyd, Georgia
Deion Jones, Louisiana State University
Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State
Reggie Ragland, Alabama
Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
