Top 15 breakout candidates for 2015 college football season

Oct 4, 2014; College Park, MD, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Raekwon McMillan (5) celebrates after scoring a touchdown off a interception in the fourth quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Byrd Stadium. Ohio State Buckeyes defeated Maryland Terrapins 52-24. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

There’s a lot of star power at Ohio State but few with the type of unlimited potential that McMillan possesses.

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Raekwon McMillan

MLB, Ohio State

Raekwon McMillan was a recruiting coup for Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer when he plucked the No. 1 inside linebacker recruit out of Georgia and brought him to Columbus, OH. McMillan could have gone elsewhere and started right away, but he backed up senior Curtis Grant and still finished eighth on the team with 54 tackles despite limited playing time.

With Grant exhausting his eligibility, McMillan won’t be sharing time with anyone this year and gives the Buckeyes arguably the greatest starting linebackers in the nation with Darron Lee and Joshua Perry flanking him. The 6-2, 250-pound McMillan is a thumper and downhill defender who will have a chance to join the likes of James Laurinaitis and A.J. Hawk as a winner of the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year before he leaves for the NFL.

There’s a lot of star power at Ohio State but few with the type of unlimited potential that McMillan possesses.

Next: Jeremy Johnson