Through the first five practices of Arizona football training camp, star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan has worn shoulders and helmet during the “shells” version of camp, but hasn’t participated in any of the 20-plus periods of the Wildcats’ practices.
McMillan, who is rehabbing from a leg injury he suffered in April, has done a series of running and foot-planting exercises with strength and conditioning coach Cullen Carroll. The two are inseparable. Sometimes the two are working together on a different field away from training camp action.
“He’s a competitor, and he’s a leader,” Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita said of McMillan. “You could see him on the side working to get back. He’s been doing that all along. So he’s in a really good spot.”
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan vowed Arizona is “always going to do what’s best for T-Mac,” and not rush him back to practice.
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan gives a salute as the sideline celebrates his touchdown late against Washington last year.
“We’ll always do what’s best for the player in that situation,” Brennnan said. “We don’t want to rush a player into playing. Those decisions are not coaching decisions, ever. Those are medical decisions and player decisions, family decisions.”
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4), while still rehabbing at that point from an injury suffered in spring, talks to strength coach Cullen Carroll during the Wildcats’ first practice of training camp on July 31 at the Dick Tomey Practice Fields.
McMillan is “where he should be, and that doesn’t surprise me at all," Brennan said at the start of training camp.
“First of all, he’s very young. He’s blessed with this incredible, healthy body,” Brennan said. “He’s healing fast and recovering quicker than somebody old like me would.”
McMillan “handled (his leg rehab) like a pro,” added Arizona receivers coach Bobby Wade.
“You can see his focus in his rehab and his ability to push himself in the rehab like it’s preparation for a game or preparation for practice,” Wade said. “He’s at every meeting on time, he’s one of the first guys in the building. He’s still handling it like a pro. That’s his job right now until it changes. That’s where his responsibilities are, and he’s taking care of it.”
McMillan is also “spending plenty of time in the classroom with me,” Wade added, as the Wildcats install a variety of plays and information that is a combination of different offensive concepts between Brennan’s system and the offense ran under former UA head coach Jedd Fisch.
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan answers questions near the tail end of Day 2 of Big 12 football Media Days on July 10 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
“He’s consistently in my office, consistently talking ball. He’s in every meeting so he’s not missing any of the installs,” Wade said. “He also has a special ability to be able to see a play and apply it on the football field.
“Not really concerned with him catching up to speed, I’m more concerned with him understanding that he’s going to need some help this year,” he added. “He’s actually accepted that.”
There is a silver lining to McMillan’s absence: players behind McMillan in the receiver pecking order are earning more reps at training and, more importantly, developing a chemistry and camaraderie with Fifita and other weapons in the offense. Arizona senior receiver amd returning starter Montana Lemonious-Craig noticed “there’s a lot more targets, the ball might find you a little more often” with McMillan out.
“So it’s about building a relationship with the quarterback, with Noah,” Lemonious-Craig said.
Arizona wide receiver AJ Jones (6) jumps to catch a pass during spring football practice on April 23.
A few players have stepped into the T-Mac role, or “X” receiver position, which “is really exposed,” Wade said. Redshirt sophomore AJ Jones, redshirt freshman Devin Hyatt, who is the brother of New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, walk-on Rex Haynes and redshirt freshman Jackson Holman. The 6-4, 211-pound Jones signed with Arizona’s stacked 2022 recruiting class, but hasn’t cracked the rotation unless you count his start against San Diego State in ‘22, when McMillan changed jerseys on the sideline following the opening kickoff.
Unfortunately for Jones, the player in front of him on the depth chart over the last two-plus seasons is arguably the best in program history — and he could statistically become Arizona’s GOAT (greatest of all time), if he records 1,248 yards and passes Wade for most career receiving yards by a Wildcat.
“For AJ, I would like to see him be the guy,” Wade said. “It’s tough, because T-Mac sets the bar so high. But that’s the position and what is required of that position. For him, he just needs to continue to be consistent, continue to make contested catches and continue to use his size and length to his ability.”
Arizona wide receivers AJ Jones (6) and Devin Hyatt (13) talk during a March 2024 practice on the UA campus.
In the last two practices, the 6-2, 184-pound Hyatt, a former IMG Academy (Florida) standout, has taken over as the starting “X.” Old Dominion transfer Reymello Murphy has played multiple receiver positions in Arizona’s offense. The Wildcats are “constantly fluid with the depth chart right now,” Wade said.
“We’ve made this a true competition within the room,” said Arizona’s receivers coach. “I’ve been transparent with everybody. People obviously know where T-Mac is and his ability to play at a high level. With that said, we need other guys that’s going to give him a spell and give him a break on the football field. ... It’s an open competition, and we’re going to keep it that way until guys separate themselves.”
The good news for the several Arizona receivers hoping to land a contributing role in the UA offense: the Wildcats are expecting to use six or seven receivers in games — potentially eight. Fisch swore by his pro-style system, which relied on three wide receivers. Under Brennan, if a receiver is ready, they’ll play instead of riding the pine.
Arizona wide receiver Malachi Riley (10) readies to receive a pass during a recent fall practice on July 31 on the UA campus.
“If they’re showing us that we need to play them, we will play them. ... There are some guys that I think their skillset can play in a specific position, so I’ll make sure they’re available for certain plays,” Wade said.
If Arizona’s receivers had a pecking order after McMillan — the clear-cut head of the group: Lemonious-Craig, sophomore Malachi Riley, Murphy and Hyatt, junior-college slot receiver and shifty Jeremiah Patterson, who will also return punts, and Jones appear to be the leaders in the clubhouse for Arizona’s receiver rotation, with several others in the wing. Besides McMillan, Lemonious-Craig and Murphy, none of the aforementioned receivers have legitimate FBS experience; Riley and Jones combined for nine catches last season.
Arizona wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig (5) catches the ball during spring football practice at the Dick Tomey Practice Fields on April 23.
“They might lack game experience,” said Wade, “but they’ve shown me they are ready, and I’m going to continue to push them to be ready. ... My belief within the group is that we have a strong group of six, seven or maybe even eight guys that are going to rotate and help this team.”
As the Wildcats search for the complementary receivers to surround McMillan, the Arizona star has taken a player-coach role, “and telling guys what he sees.”
“There’s nothing more powerful than having a guy of his stature and his ability to grab a younger guy and speak to him,” Wade said.
Would Arizona prefer to have its generational talent on the field? It’s a no-brainer. But the Wildcats view McMillan’s setback as a blessing in disguise.
“If someone were to tell us T-Mac didn’t turn pro, that he was going to stay with us and not go to another school and then sit out during spring ball and camp and then come in right before the season and play,” said Arizona offensive coordinator Dino Babers.
“Would we be happy with that? I think we might agree to that.”
