Ja'Quan McMillian

Position:
Cornerback
Height:
5-10
Weight:
183
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Winston-Salem
High School:
West Forsyth
Major:
Communication

Has made one of the most notable two-year impacts by an East Carolina secondary performer in program history … Already ranks as one of the top returning starting cornerbacks in the American Athletic Conference and should be poised for national (postseason) honors candidacy as a projected three-year starter in 2021 … Enjoyed a quick acclimation to the collegiate level, both schematically and physically, and also offers plenty of quickness and savvy in coverage … Has started 17 of 21 career contests and been credited with 71 tackles (59 solo), 12 pass breakups and netted seven interceptions – the most by a Pirate freshman and sophomore in their first two years of collective action since Clint Harris (7 in 1980-81) … Has recorded at least one stop in all 21 games and posted multiple totals on 19 occasions (four or more 11 times) … Forty-seven (47) of his 71 tackles have come on pass plays (66.2 percent) … Benefitted from ECU’s strength and conditioning program in two-plus years, adding 22 pounds of muscle to his announced freshman preseason camp weight … Wrapped up spring drills with a solo stop during the Purple-Gold Game on April 24 … A 2021 First-Team Preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection by Phil Steele’s College Football Preview and a second-team choice by Athlon Sports.

2020: Earned Second-Team All-American Athletic Conference honors … Played in all nine games as a sophomore and made five combined starts at the beginning (UCF, Georgia State) and end (Cincinnati, Temple and SMU) of the campaign … Had a streak of 14-straight starts snapped by coming off the bench at South Florida in Week 3 … Stood fifth on the unit with 33 tackles, 27 of those coming as solo hits … Led squad in interceptions with four (31 return yards), which ranked eighth nationally at the FBS level and co-led the AAC ... Also credited with three pass breakups (Tulane, Cincinnati, SMU) … Posted two or more tackles in eight outings (single tally at South Florida) … Turned in a season-best five stops (all solo) on three occasions – UCF, Georgia State and SMU … Logged four tackles against Navy, Tulsa and Cincinnati, while producing three at Temple and a pair of hits vs. Tulane … Picked off lone passes against Panthers and Green Wave before ending the season in strong fashion with a pair of thefts vs. Mustangs … Interceptions against SMU came on successive fourth-quarter drives, both at the ECU 34-yard line, to thwart the Mustangs’ comeback efforts and preserve a 52-38 win at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … Twenty-five (25) of 33 tackles were on pass plays (75.8 percent) … Credited with 28 (of 33) stops during conference play and made 19 tackles during first half of season (five contests) … Other notable split includes day/night games (24/9) … A 2020 Preseason All-American Athletic Conference selection by Athlon Sports.

2019: Opened all 12 games as a true rookie and topped the Pirates in pass breakups (9) and interception return yards (52), while tying for the lead in overall pass thefts (3) … Credited with 38 tackles (32 solo) … Logged at least one stop in each contest and recorded multiple hits on 11 occasions (three or more seven times) … Earned Pro Football Focus All-Freshman honors and was named to the Freshman Mid-Season All-America Watch List per the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) … Also recorded a TFL (-2 yards vs. Navy) and a forced fumble (Old Dominion) … Netted interceptions against Gardner-Webb (32-yard return), Old Dominion (0) and SMU (20), which marked the most by a Pirate freshman since Emanuel Davis netted four in 2008 … In addition to snaring a pick, booked a personal-best seven tackles against Mustangs in Dallas … Collected four stops in collegiate debut at NC State as well as against William & Mary, Temple and USF … Had three tackles in outings vs. Navy and Cincinnati, and a pair of hits each against Old Dominion, UCF, Connecticut and Tulsa … Credited with a team-high four pass breakups in a prime-time nationally-televised Thursday night matchup vs. the Owls … Had single knockdowns against the Wolfpack, Bulldogs, Tribe, Bearcats and Huskies … Ranked among AAC’s top five in both interceptions and passes defended … Registered 27 tackles in conference action (11 in non-league play) … Officially enrolled early at ECU (January) and participated with the Pirates in spring drills …

High School: A three-sport (football, basketball, track) athlete who earned six letters at West Forsyth High School … Started all four years for the Titans and coach Adrian Snow … Chosen to the Winston-Salem Journal All-Northwest Area squad on three occasions and was a four-time All-Central Piedmont performer … Also named West Forsyth Male Athlete-of-the-Year as a junior … Picked off 22 career passes, returning a pair for touchdowns … Helped the Titans to an 11-1 record in 2017, which included winning the Central Piedmont 4-A title and earning a first-round bye in the state playoffs … Booked 44 tackles, intercepted three passes and was credited with 15 pass breakups as a junior … Sophomore year highlight was blocking a field goal attempt by Reagan High School with 11 seconds left, recovering it and running it in for a TD to secure a 21-13 win … Began prep career by booking 63 tackles, 7 interceptions as a freshman in 2015 (as team advanced to the third round of the state 4-AA playoffs) … Also played quarterback, wide receiver and was a return specialist on the gridiron … Invited to play in the prestigious Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas in 2018 … As basketball player, averaged 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in 29 contest as a sophomore … Ran indoor track as a junior, competing in the 100, 200, 4x100 and 4x200 relays, as well as the long jump … Considered a three-star prospect by ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com … Listed as the 50th-best recruit in the state of N.C. by ESPN.com and No. 52 by 247Sports.com … Also ranked among the best 125 cornerbacks nationally according to several recruiting services … Officially committed to ECU on July 12, 2018 … Recruited by Syracuse, North Carolina, Louisville, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia.

Personal: Son of Nicole Richmond and Stephan McMillian … First name is pronounced juh-KWAN … A communication major.