Arizona star receiver Tetairoa McMillan declares for NFL Draft

Arizona star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan will forego his senior season and declare for the NFL Draft. The projected Top 10 pick announced his decision on his social media accounts on Thursday.

McMillan expectedly ended his time at Arizona after an illustrious three-year career.

“Wildcat nation, this journey has been everything I dreamed of and more,” McMillan said on Instagram. “From the moment I committed to the University of Arizona, to every second spent wearing that Arizona jersey, it’s been an absolute honor.

“The University of Arizona has provided me with the platform to grow and chase my dreams. It has shaped me not just as a player, but as a person.

“I’ll be forever grateful for the loyalty, the opportunities and everything this university has given me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ... This is only the beginning.”

The Arizona receiver is projected by ESPN to go eighth overall to the Carolina Panthers. Former Arizona offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea is expected to land at No. 31 overall to the Detroit Lions.

ESPN Matt Miller said, “McMillan is a Drake London clone with awesome vertical ability and great hands. ... And he has the size to consistently win physical matchups and is versatile enough to split out wide or play in the slot.”

CBS’ recent mock draft predicts the New England Patriots to select McMillan at third overall. USA Today has McMillan at sixth overall to the Tennessee Titans.

If McMillan is drafted higher than seventh overall, the Arizona receiver will be the highest-selected Wildcat in draft history.

McMillan ended his junior season with 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns, but had a career-worst eight drops after only having a combined five in his first two seasons, according to PFF. McMillan also had 430 yards after catch this season.

McMillan, who is third in college football in receiving yards, leads the Big 12 in receiving yards and was recently named an All-Big 12 First-Team receiver — the first UA receiver to receive all-conference first-team honors since Juron Criner in 2010.

McMillan was also named an Associated Press All-Big 12 selection and received All-America honors by Pro Football Focus, CBS and 247Sports. He was also named a Polynesian College Football Player of the Year finalist.

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In three years at Arizona, McMillan recorded a school-record 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns, the third-most in program history. McMillan passed current Arizona wide receivers coach Bobby Wade for the career receiving record earlier this season.

“I was extremely happy,” Wade said last month. “It was satisfying, for sure. It was something that was a goal we set when we first got here. You don’t make a lot of promises as a coach, but that was one I promised him we’d get done regardless of record and whatever else is going on.”

Passing Wade for the all-time receiving record was “the plan since Day 1 when he stepped into the building,” McMillan said.

“His idea and vision for me was to break his record,” said McMillan. “We were able to do that tonight. It’s been a blessing to be under his wing and for him to show me the ropes about the game.”

Added Arizona head coach Brent Brennan: “T-Mac has been such a great player here for so many years and lots of people have a hand in his process and development, but I think Bobby has, too. Bobby is an important part of that. They have a great relationship. Watching him play is really, really special.

“It’s not every day that a player like that comes around. ... He’s an incredibly hard worker, he’s a high-level competitor and that shows up every week.”

McMillan has 1,162 yards after catch in his career and his 213 career receptions ranks fourth in UA history behind Mike Thomas, Wade and Dennis Northcutt. McMillan owns the single-game receiving record with 304 yards and four touchdowns, which he set in the season opener against New Mexico in August.

The 6-5, 212-pound McMillan, who signed with Arizona in 2022 as the program’s highest-rated recruit in the modern recruiting era, ends his college career as arguably the top wide receiver in program history.

“Despite the season not going the way we planned it to go, shoot, I don’t regret any decision I made,” McMillan said.

“Whether it’s coming to Arizona out of high school when they went 1-11, I don’t regret it. Coming back to Tucson when Coach (Jedd) Fisch left, I don’t regret it. I’m here because I’m supposed to be here.”

The 2025 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit April 25-27.