Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Photo credit: Ric Tapia/Getty Images
NFL draft prospect Tetairoa McMillan has proved himself to be one of the most interesting wideout players in this year’s class. With a towering 6’4 frame, elite ball skills, and a natural ability to win contested catches, McMillan is a big-play threat who thrives in one-on-one situations. Size, hands, and route-running IQ are what scouts want to see in a WR1 prospect. McMillan embodies all.
In this article, we’ll explore McMillan’s background, highlight his standout college career, break down his scouting profile, and show why he has the tools to be an early first-round pick.
Background
McMillan was born in 2003 in the small windward community of Waimãnalo, Hawaii. Moving to California with his family at age 12, he attended Servite High School in Anaheim where he earned five-star status. In his senior year, he was a finalist for the Gatorade Football Player of the Year. In 2021, he won the Polynesian Football Player of the Year Award. Flipping to Arizona after initially committing to Oregon, he became the highest-rated recruit in the school’s history.
Collegiate Accolades
McMillan wasted no time in setting the tone as a college football player. He led all true freshmen across the nation with 702 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 39 catches. In his sophomore year, he was named third-team AP All-American. Going into his junior year, he earned preseason first-team AP All-American honors. By the end of the season, he was named a 2024 Consensus All-American. He was also a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, but ultimately lost to Travis Hunter. He earned First-team AP All-American and First-team All-Big 12 Conference honors.
McMillan set a couple of records at Arizona. His 304 yards in the opening game of the 2024 season set a school single-game receiving yardage record. He also tied a school record with four touchdowns in that game. McMillan’s total career tally of 3,423 yards is the most in Wildcats program history. His career receptions (213) and touchdowns (26) rank in the top five in school history.
Scouting Report Summary
McMillan brings a rare combination of size, ball skills, and route running. Standing tall with a sleek frame, he showcases the strength and balance to create separation, particularly on intermediate routes and after the catch. His background in volleyball and basketball shines through in his ability to extend for passes and pluck the ball away from his frame with ease. He’s definitely not the fastest WR around but he has solid speed and fluidity. He’s also physical, and all of these make him a dangerous weapon, especially on contested catches and deep balls.
McMillan excels in the red zone and on crucial third downs, where his ability to win with technique, route sophistication, and fierce ball tracking stands out. Though he can struggle against press coverage and intricate routes at times, his strength and burst allow him to overcome those challenges. His feel for adjusting routes and working back to the ball adds to his value, making him a reliable option in various schemes. A true matchup nightmare, McMillan has the tools to be a high-impact player at the next level, projecting as a potential No. 1 receiver with elite YAC potential and mismatches in the slot.
Strengths
Big frame: McMillan uses his frame effectively to shield defenders and consistently win contested catches.
Glides effortlessly: For his size, McMillan does excellently well to cover ground smoothly downfield.
YAC threat: Balance, speed, and vision make McMillan dangerous after the catch.
Craft route technician: He’s a smart hand-fighter at the top of routes and adjusts mid-play to exploit coverage.
Quarterback-friendly target: McMillan reads zone defenses well and works back to the ball on broken plays.
Weaknesses
Lacks elite burst: McMillan doesn’t possess top-tier leaping ability or freakish speed.
Not a natural separator: McMillan lacks the suddenness to consistently shake defenders.
Inconsistent ball-tracking: He occasionally takes poor angles on deep throws, limiting big-play chances.
NFL Combine Results
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split |
| 6 ft 4⅛ in(1.93 m) | 219 lb(99 kg) | 31½ in(0.80 m) | 10 in(0.25 m) | 4.53 s | 1.58 s | 2.62 s |
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