According to the Indianapolis Star’s Stephen Holder, the Indianapolis Colts met with Ohio State inside linebacker Raekwon McMillan earlier this week at the NFL Combine:
Raekwon McMillan of Ohio state met with the #Colts this week. He's interesting, given the huge need at ILB. Need upgrades there.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) March 4, 2017
The 6’2″, 243 pound junior inside linebacker recorded 102 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 5 passes defensed, and 2 forced fumbles in 13 games en route to earning First-Team All-Big Ten and AP Second-Team All-American honors.
He was also named a Lott and Butkus award semifinalist.
As a co-captain for Ohio State, McMillan finished his standout Buckeyes career with 275 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 forced fumbles.
From his NFL.com Draft Profile:
"NFL COMPARISONMason Foster"
"BOTTOM LINEMcMillan has too many issues standing his ground and leveraging his gap as an interior run defender and could end up outside in the pros. He might have benefited from playing alongside a slew of NFL talent, but he’s active and plays the game with good instincts. He has the potential to become an average starter in the league."
"“Like Mosley, McMillan is a solid run defender who can give up plays in coverage. This comparison does not apply to pass-rush ability, as Mosley has been productive in this capacity for the Ravens, while McMillan has not displayed the skill set in college needed to be effective at the next level.”"
Highly regarded as one of the best inside linebackers in this year’s draft class, McMillan is widely projected to be an early round selection by draft experts:
McMillan head to the NFL Draft as expected. Fits somewhere in the top 2 rounds. https://t.co/4ugaNPew7z
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 4, 2017
#OhioState linebacker Raekwon McMillian is my favorite defensive player to watch from 2017 draft class. So fast/strong to the ball.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) June 20, 2016
Of course, the Colts could clearly use help at inside linebacker, as the team has young holdovers Edwin Jackson and Antonio Morrison as its only potential solutions–who are both unproven and could be better served as backups long-term.
Specifically, the team released starting veteran inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson earlier this offseason and has already struggled replacing Jerrell Freeman from a year ago with the cupboard otherwise barren.
Next: Report: Colts Interested in Falcons Free Agent Linebacker Paul Worrilow
McMillan could be an intriguing inside linebacker prospect for the Colts from that perspective, as the team is presumably looking for an upgrade at the position for the foreseeable future.
Here are the following prospects who the Colts have reportedly met so far at the NFL Combine: