Clemson back at the top for 5-star LB

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Wed Feb 13 11:38:56 GMT-04:00 2013

Raekwon McMillan Raekwon McMillan
Linebacker
6-3, 235
Hinesville, GA
View Full Profile wants to win championships, and he makes no secret of the fact that he wants to win a National Championship during his college career.

In fact, his desire for a championship runs so strong that a less-than-stellar season by some college programs next season may even take them out of the running for his services.

The Hinesville (GA) Liberty County standout spoke with TigerNet Tuesday night, and he said that he will be paying close attention to his visits this spring and the results of games next year in order to see if any other schools join the fray with his two leaders – Clemson and Ohio St.

“I want to have a list of top five schools,” McMillan said. “Ohio St. and Clemson are toward the top right now. I want to take my visits this spring and make sure I take everything into consideration. And a lot will depend on how those top five schools do next season – if they have a bad season then that looks bad on the resume.”

McMillan said Clemson and Ohio St. have a lot in common.

“Clemson is the exact same thing as Ohio St.,” he said. “They are building their program, and they are one of those up-and-coming teams in college football. That is why they both are two of my top schools – I want to win a National Championship and I think both of those schools are going to have that opportunity very soon.”

He said he even sees similarities between Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile and Urban Meyer.

“Coach Meyer and Coach Swinney are very similar. They are both players’ coaches,” he said. “They understand the struggle you go through as a student, as a teenager and on the field. Both of those coaches are always there for you. Coach Swinney may be a little more family-oriented, and Coach Meyer will get the most out of you.”

McMillan listed the reasons that Ohio St. stands out.

“It really is just the fact that I am building a great relationship with the coaches,” he said. “Coach Meyer is building an SEC team up there. They are going to have a really great program, and with this last recruiting class they are going to have a great season. They are on the rise.”

He said that Clemson stands out for many of the same reasons.

“Clemson is very family-oriented,” he said. “They have great coaches, and that is a place I definitely could see myself playing. They are another program that is on the rise.”

McMillan visited Clemson for Elite Junior Day on February 2nd, and said that visit is what helped pushed Clemson back to the top with the Buckeyes.

“That was a great visit,” he said. “I really took the visit for purposes that no one else would understand. At this point in my recruitment, I am getting to the point where I want to pick my school and know it before anybody else knows it. I wanted to see some different things on that visit, and see how I felt.”

He said that Swinney had a message for him.

“He was telling me he wants me to be the leader of the defense,” he said. “He told me that Clemson is getting ready to make a run, and he wants me to be a part of that.”

McMillan plans to visit Florida this weekend. He has been to Georgia five times, Clemson four times, Ohio State three times, South Carolina twice and once each to Florida and Alabama. He said he hopes to have a clearer picture once he makes more visits. He said he won’t make a decision in the summer but won’t wait too long because he will be an early enrollee.

As a junior, McMillan recorded 152 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and seven sacks. As a sophomore, he racked up 97 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception.