Former Arizona star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan isn’t participating in the drills portion of the NFL Scouting Combine, he revealed during his pre-combine media availability on Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The projected first-rounder and potential Top 10 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft didn’t elaborate on his decision to opt out of the various drills, including the 40-yard dash, scheduled for Saturday.
The Star contacted Klutch Sports Group for comment, but didn’t receive a response. McMillan is scheduled to perform at Big 12 Pro Day at The Star in Frisco, Texas on March 18-21.
McMillan isn’t the only projected first-rounder at the NFL Scouting Combine to opt out of drills. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, Miami quarterback Cam Ward, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Georgia defensive end Jalon Walker and Ole Miss defensive lineman Walter Nolen are among the players not participating in the drills at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan poses for a portrait at the NFL Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Indianapolis.
McMillan has met with several NFL teams this week, including the New England Patriots, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys and the Las Vegas Raiders, which recently hired former UA offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll, the son of Raiders head coach Pete Carroll.
The Patriots have the fourth pick in the NFL Draft; the Raiders are sixth, the Jets are seventh, the Saints are ninth and the Cowboys have the No. 12 overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft that starts on April 24 in Green Bay. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. projects McMillan to land at No. 22 overall to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The 6-5, 212-pound McMillan, a Biletnikoff Award finalist who became Arizona’s program leader in career receiving yards in three seasons, said he emulates his game after Arizona Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald. Former Arizona offensive coordinator Dino Babers said last season, “The only person I’ve seen with a catch radius like that is Larry Fitzgerald.”
“I’m not comparing him to Larry because he played 17 years (in the NFL); I’m telling you he’s not normal,” Babers said then. “He may be better than anyone I’ve ever coached. We’ll see. I’ve coached some really good ones and they played really well in the pros. At the college level, he might be better than anyone I’ve ever coached.”
McMillan has drawn comparisons to Atlanta Falcons receiver Drake London and Cincinnati Bengals star Tee Higgins.
Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (44) hangs on to trip up Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) after a catch in the third quarter of their Big 12 football game, the 98th Territorial Cup, in Tucson on Nov. 30, 2024.
“People look at me as a bigger receiver, which I am,” McMillan said. “I’m physically dominant, but at the end of the day, I’m able to run every route in the route tree, I’m able to play inside or outside and I feel like a lot of people and a lot of teams are sleeping on me right now.”
Over the last two seasons at Arizona, McMillan expanded his route tree as a receiver and improved his yards after catch (YAC). According to Pro Football Focus, after McMillan logged 195 yards after catch as a freshman, he combined for 995 yards after catch in 2023 and ’24. McMillan played nearly 23% of his offensive snaps at Arizona as a slot receiver.
“The most underrated part of my game, I feel like my explosiveness,” McMillan said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I feel like people sleep on my ability with the ball in my hands. Everyone knows about my 50-50 balls and my catch radius, but I feel like getting out of my breaks as a bigger receiver is good.”
Wherever McMillan lands in April, the former Wildcat is “ready to play the best in the world.”
“This is the highest level you can possibly play in this game,” McMillan said. “Being able to play the best in the world and the best to do it in this game, is something I look forward to. ... At the end of the day, I want to be one of the best to ever play this game.”
Extra points
– McMillan on feedback from coaches at the draft: “You don’t ever want to hear other coaches or teams that you potentially want to play for talking bad about you, but at the end of the day, it’s their jobs to find the pros and cons of my game. It’s a business decision and I totally get it.”
– McMillan listed Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals), Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings), Malik Nabers (New York Giants), Brian Thomas (Jacksonville Jaguars) and AJ Brown (Philadelphia Eagles) as his five favorite receivers currently in the NFL.
– McMillan, on Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita: “That’s my dog, man. Noah Fifita is my best friend. I’ve been catching touchdowns from him for the last eight years. ... I’m glad I decided to stay one more year with my dog.”
– Former Arizona offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea is scheduled to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine drills on Sunday at 11 a.m. on NFL Network.
