John Mills, a first-year offensive lineman for the University of Washington, has been honored as a Freshman All-American by the football website On3. This accolade comes after a standout season where he started ten games at two different positions for the Huskies.
Mills, who stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 342 pounds, hails from San Francisco. He has shown remarkable skill and maturity on the field, having been recognized just a week prior as an honorable mention on the All-Big Ten media team.
Despite being only seventeen at the start of the season, Mills quickly established himself as a key player, stepping in as a starter while also adapting to both left guard and right tackle roles. His performance was particularly impressive considering he returned from a high-ankle sprain that sidelined him for two games.
When called upon to fill in for an injured teammate, Mills demonstrated his readiness and resilience. Veteran right guard Geirean Hatchett praised Mills” ability to perform at a high level, emphasizing that he does not exhibit the typical immaturity expected of a player his age. “John might come off as an 18-year-old kid, but on game day, he”s very mature,” Hatchett noted. “He”s in there making all the right calls. He”s very locked in and knows everything that”s supposed to be going on on the football field.”
Mills” recognition as a Freshman All-American places him alongside other talented players, including Michael Carroll from Alabama and Michael Fasusi from Oklahoma, as well as Dontrell Glover from Georgia and David Sanders Jr. from Tennessee. A total of eight freshmen were selected from the Big Ten, matching the number from the SEC, while six came from the ACC and one from the American Athletic Conference.
As his college career progresses, it will be interesting to see how Mills continues to develop and contribute to the success of the Huskies.
