After a record-setting performance in Arizona's season-opening win over New Mexico, UA wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.
McMillan is the first player in UA history to receive Big 12 weekly honors.
In Arizona's 61-39 win over New Mexico on Saturday, McMillan set a school record with 304 receiving yards on 10 catches and four touchdowns, which tied the UA record. It’s also the second-most receiving yards in Big 12 history behind Baylor’s Terrance Williams (314 yards). Brennan was unaware of McMillan being 11 yards away from becoming a Big 12 record-holder in Arizona's first game as a Big 12 member.
"That's one of those things where the records are all well and good, but to keep feeding him the ball late in the game, when the game is out of reach, and have something bad happen, it doesn't make sense to me," Arizona head coach Brent Brennan said during his news conference on Monday. "He's an awesome player. It was fun to watch, wasn't it? It was impressive."
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McMillan’s 176 yards after catch alone would’ve been the second-most receiving yards by the star receiver since joining Arizona. McMillan is the first player in FBS history to have 10-plus catches, over 300 receiving yards, average over 30 yards per catch and have four or more touchdowns in a game, according to OptaStats. McMillan’s four touchdowns on Saturday were for 69, 17, 78, and 40 yards.
“Those big, explosive (plays) were just incredible,” Brennan said after the game on Saturday. “He outran the whole secondary on that big one down the sideline. He’s awesome and an awesome competitor. He’s also not satisfied, like, ‘We can play better.’ It’s what you hope for.”
In the last three games, including his 266-yard performance against Arizona State last season, McMillan has 31 catches for 730 yards and five touchdowns.
No. 21 Arizona (1-0) hosts Northern Arizona on Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star's Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports