Devy Digest: Tetairoa McMillan

Andy Pham discusses whether he thinks Tetairoa McMillan should be ranked as the WR1 in the 2025 class.

Arizona Wildcats
Position: Wide Receiver
Tetairoa McMillan
6’5” 215 lbs
Age: 21
Draft Eligible: 2025

Who is Tetairoa McMillan?

McMillan was a four-star in the composites and attended Servite High in Anaheim, California. McMillan was a three-year starter on varsity and was impactful right away as a Sophomore with 65 receptions for 851 yards and 12 touchdowns. Aa Junior, the season was shortened due to Covid restrictions in California but made people remember how special he was as a Senior, with 88 receptions for 1,302 yards and 18 touchdowns. McMillan was the 2021 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year Finalist and made the All-Star circuit as he appeared in the Polynesian Bowl and the All-American Bowl. McMillan was a three-sport athlete who competed in basketball and volleyball. McMillan held twenty-five offers and reportedly came down to Oregon, USC, Arizona, and Notre Dame. There were talks about how McMillan and fellow Servite Quarterback Noah Fifita wanted to team up and play for the same school as best friends and host a podcast together. The only commonality of their programs was Arizona, where both ended up. They would be part of a program-changing class for then-Head Coach Jedd Fisch. 

This past January, the College Football landscape changed when Nick Saban retired, and part of the domino effect would take place with McMillan, where Fisch would abruptly leave Arizona to head over to the University of Washington with the portal window opened for all players at Arizona and some concerns that McMillan would leave. He did not and stayed with the program to prepare for the 2024 season. During spring practices, McMillan would injure his foot and was spotted in a walking boot. At Big 12 Media Days, it was reported that McMillan would be in some form of full go for him.

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Strengths

McMillan has a large catch radius, and if he’s able to get a half step on his defender or is led open, McMillan will come down with the ball. McMillan is a versatile player who can be lined up wide or in the slot and used in different ways. He’s been just fine on short, intermediate, and deep routes. McMillan is a sure-handed receiver who has no trouble corralling an underthrown ball. His main asset is his size. Because of his height, he can be motioned around to find mismatches with corners, and he should have the length advantage on most cornerbacks. McMillan is a player who thrives on competition and plays with a chip on his shoulders. While he doesn’t have top-end speed, McMillan is a good mover and not a tight-hipped runner. 

Improvements/Concerns

A lingering foot issue is always a concern, but more than just his limitation from being able to practice, he’s a version of full go; how’s his conditioning? While the long-term effects aren’t there, the short-term concerns are there; if Arizona struggles early in the season, does he opt out and prepare for the NFL? A new coaching staff takes over, which is a concern that people are minimizing. Brent Brennan is a very different Coach from his predecessor. There has to be a concern with some reduced volume or, at the very least, a core belief switch in systems. McMillan struggles at creating separation and is not a technical route runner. Being a taller, lankier receiver is par for the course, but there are too many times when corners are draped on him, and he only wins because of his catch radius and background in basketball and volleyball. I have reservations about him being able to do that in the NFL. The fun aspect of the 2025 class is you have different styles.

There is a technical superior route runner in Evan Stewart, the physical YAC guy in Luther Burden, to the prototypical X-Receiver who is 6’4 and taller in McMillan. Functional play strength is another concern with him; he gets jammed at the line of scrimmage far too quickly for a player of his caliber. His play strength comes into play with contested catches. At 6’5 with a background in basketball and volleyball, McMillan, for his career, only wins 43.6% of contested catches. The lack of functional play strength negates his height when it’s a 50/50 ball. McMillan isn’t explosive, nor has the elite speed you want. All players have aspects of their game that can be polished, but I don’t like the combination of play strength, lack of getting open against lesser defenders, and lack of top-end speed, which concerns me.

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Beyond the Numbers