Tetairoa McMillan, WR

Measurables:

Height: 6’4

Weight: 219lbs 

Classification: Junior 

School: Arizona 

Testing Numbers:

Arm: 31 1/2”

Hand: 10”

40: N/A

Broad: N/A

Vert: N/A

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Prospect Background:

Located on the eastern end of the Island of O’aku, just off the coast of the Pacific Ocean and approximately 3200 miles from the American mainland is Waimanalo, Hawaii.

It is here where Tetairoa McMillian spent the first 12 years of his life before moving to Southern California. 

McMillian represents his hometown on and off the field in many ways, but the most notable is seen in the nickname, Nalo, given to him by quarterback and best friend Noah Fifita.

Typically Nalo is short for the name of the city Waimanalo, but for McMillian, it carries a different meaning: Negative Attitudes Lose Opportunities.

McMillian began his football playing days with the Orange County Buckeyes. Initially, McMillian wanted to play quarterback. However, it didn’t take long for him to make himself comfortable with his role on the outside, as he helped lead Orange County to a youth league championship in the eighth grade. 

Paired with a multitude of his Orange County teammates including the aforementioned Fifita, McMillian enrolled at Servite High School in Anaheim, California.  

While at Servite, he became a multiple sport athlete participating in football, basketball, and volleyball. McMillian would earn nine varsity letters during his tenure. Surprisingly, volleyball might’ve been his most dominant sport. He led the Friars to a Trinity League Championship and a CIF Semifinal while setting the school record for kills in a match. 

Across three varsity seasons in football though, McMillian hauled in 179 receptions for 2,640 yards, and 34 touchdowns (A school record in all three categories). He would finish his Servite career as the 2021 Polynesian high school player of the year, California State Player of the Year, and a four-star recruit.

McMillian, who initially committed to Oregon because of his childhood admiration for fellow native Islander Marcus Mariota, ultimately flipped to Arizona, where he would follow several of his childhood teammates, including his best friend, who also committed there.

As the highest-ranked recruit in Arizona program history, McMillian left an impact over the course of his three seasons. During this time he became the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards, finished third in program history in receiving touchdowns, and fourth all-time in receptions. 

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Stats:

Freshman

• Receptions: 39
• Targets: 81
• Yards: 702
• TDs: 8

Sophomore:

• Receptions: 90
• Targets: 130
• Yards: 1,396
• TDs: 10

Junior:

• Rec: 84
• Targets: 130
• Yards: 1,316
• TDs: 8

Alignment/Number of Snaps

Slot:

• 2022: 118
• 2023: 124
• 2024: 105

Outside:

• 2022: 368
• 2023: 394
• 2024: 379

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Prospect Overview:

Tetairoa McMillian profiles as the prototypical X receiver at the next level. He’s easily identified on film by his long frame both in height and arm length, which he utilizes well on a down-to-down basis. 

McMillian offers an out-of-this-world catch radius that makes him difficult to defend. At the catch point, he aggressively attacks the ball at its highest peak. He showcases excellent play strength fighting through contact to make some tough contested catches in which he ranked third in the nation. 

McMillian does a phenomenal job adjusting his body in the air to make a play on the football. He’s more like a quarterback’s best friend with his ability to bail them out. This also extends to the more routine receptions where McMillian often comes back for the football instead of letting the ball meet him. McMillian also does a great job of out-positioning defenders — his basketball and volleyball backgrounds are on true display here. 

In terms of route running, McMillian isn’t the most nuanced in this area — is more of a space finder specifically against zone coverage. You grow to appreciate what he offers in the short and intermediate areas of the field, where he excels at the slant and whip routes but often gets to his spots with limited false steps specifically on breaking routes.

Down the field, McMillian has proven to be a consistent weapon finishing seventh in the nation in receptions over 20+ yards in ‘24.

McMillian plays the game at his own pace. Some may complain about a lack of separation, but he shows an ability to create just enough while using his traits to his advantage. Wish he did a better job of utilizing leverage but shows multiple flashes including a deep route vs Colorado ‘24 where he trails inside turning his defender while leaving himself space along the boundary where he eventually returns with separation. 

McMillian could be more physical at the stem of routes and upon the release. He often relies on a shoulder dip to evade contact which typically works for him but can also have his timing disrupted by more physical cornerbacks. After the catch, McMillian offers some quality abilities based on size and agility — can be a handful to bring down with a head full of steam.

McMillian typically has a reliable set of hands with just 12 career drops through 341 career targets. It’s worth noting that seven of those came this season alone, particularly in matchups against BYU and Arizona State. As for run blocking, wish he showed more physicality and quite frankly, effort. He should be successful here based on his size. 

McMillian instantly becomes a high-volume target in an offense just like in Tucson where he produces 16 career games with at least 10 targets.

While there are some areas of growth, McMillian’s safe floor offers an offense a legit building block for the future.

Cover Image Credit: The Philly Blitz