Lake Forest senior safety Ryan Milliman’s name may ring a bell.
A standout in both football and lacrosse, Ryan Milliman is the fourth brother to play sports at the school. Luke Milliman, a 2018 graduate, played lacrosse. Connor Milliman, a 2020 graduate, played football and lacrosse. So did 2022 graduate Jake Milliman, who is a redshirt freshman safety at TCU.
“My older brothers have had a major impact on my athletic career, always keeping me in check and holding me accountable, but at the same time being some of my biggest fans,” Ryan Milliman said. “They set the bar for me.”
But Ryan Milliman may be raising that bar.
“There has always been that competitive aspect in all of us, which is where I get my competitive edge, never giving up and always wanting more,” he said.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Ryan Milliman will get the chance to do more on Saturday, when seventh-seeded Lake Forest (9-2) will play third-seeded Geneva (10-1) in the Class 6A quarterfinals.
He understands the challenge that awaits. The Vikings, who beat Lake Forest 42-7 in the second round last year, average 42.9 points and feature senior wide receiver Talyn Taylor, a Georgia commit with 21 touchdown catches.
“Geneva’s offense will be one of the best we have faced all year,” Ryan Milliman said. “Taylor is very fast and an athletic guy. … He will definitely be a threat, especially for deep balls.”
But Ryan Milliman and the rest of Lake Forest’s defense are familiar with high-scoring offenses. He returned an interception for a touchdown during the Scouts’ 24-17 victory against second-seeded Libertyville last week. That was their second win against the North Suburban Conference champion Wildcats, who averaged 41.7 points in their other nine games.
Lake Forest senior linebacker Timotei Dan, who had a sack against Libertyville last week, said Ryan Milliman’s leadership has been essential to the Scouts’ success.
“Ryan is very vocal, which is what makes him a great leader,” Dan said. “He’s honest and upfront and willing to speak his mind. His voice transfers to the field, where his strength is his communication. He’s also never afraid to match up against high-level competition, given his competitive nature.”
Indeed, Ryan Milliman has excelled all season. He has 21 tackles, three interceptions and six pass breakups.
“Ryan has really come into his own this year,” Lake Forest coach Chuck Spagnoli said. “He’s very smart and a bigger kid. His physical size helps us in a lot of ways.”
Ryan Milliman also helps the Scouts with his experience.
“He’s played every position in the secondary over his career,” Spagnoli said. “He’s very familiar with what we want him to do back there. He makes all of our calls and is a very dependable player who works his butt off.”
Jake Milliman said Ryan looks familiar too.
“We’ve got the same build and use our length to shed blocks and make plays on the pass,” Jake Milliman said. “Watching him play feels like looking in the mirror because of his energy and ability to be everywhere on the field, which makes him a huge asset to have on defense.”
Connor Milliman said Ryan’s background was a good start for him.
“Ryan gained his competitive spirit from a young age because he was forced to go up against his three older brothers who were three times his size playing football or lacrosse,” Connor Milliman said. “I believe that’s where he built a ton of confidence. He stood out when playing against kids his own age and size.
“That confidence and ability is especially evident on the field today. I would say Ryan probably has some better swag than I did when I played.”
Ryan Milliman said his lacrosse experience has benefited him too. He was a key player on the team that won the state title in the spring.
“Lacrosse helps me with football with my speed and agility definitely,” he said. “Being a defensive middle in lacrosse involves a lot of directional changes and footwork, which reflects right into being a defensive back guarding a talented wide receiver.”
Ryan Milliman said Lake Forest’s seniors dedicated the offseason to becoming a better team after its loss to Geneva last year.
“This senior football season has been the most memorable season of my high school athletic career,” he said. “Several seniors, including myself, have been playing with each other for as long as we can remember, so that helps our chemistry on the field. It has been a wonderful ride that’s not yet over.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
