It was never an if, but when, Tetairoa McMillan would hear his named called in the NFL Draft. On a chilly Thursday in Green Bay, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made the call that T-Mac, his family, and Wildcat Nation will remember for a lifetime. “With the eighth pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers select Tetairoa McMillan, wide receiver, Arizona.”
McMillan is the highest-drafted Arizona wide receiver and offensive player in NFL Draft history. T-Mac is also the first first-round receiver in UA history. He is tied with Chris Singleton, who was selected 8th overall by the New England Patriots in 1990, for the second-highest selection in program history. Ricky Hunley remains the highest, going 7th to the Cincinnati Bengals in 1984.
After coming to Tucson as the highest-rated recruit in program, McMillan surpassed the lofty expectations in just about every way during his three-year career at Arizona. The Wildcats’ all-time receiving yards leader finished his career with 3,423 yards, surpassing the record held by current receivers coach Bobby Wade. He had 213 receptions and 26 touchdowns, including 12 100-plus yard games, as well as a school-record 304 yards in Arizona’s 2024 season opener against New Mexico.
McMillan was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the top receiver in college football. He was also a two-time AP All-American, including a First-Team All-American selection in 2024, and the 2024 Polynesian Player of the Year.
He gives the Arizona Wildcats consecutive first round NFL Draft picks for the first time since 1999-2000. Offensive lineman Jordan Morgan was the 25th-overall selection by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL Draft.
T-Mac is no stranger to playing with an undersized quarterback. After going 8th overall to the Carolina Panthers, Tetairoa McMillan will now be catching passes from Bryce Young, the 5-foot-10 quarterback. Young, the No. 1 selection in the 2023 draft and 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, threw for 2,403 yards and 15 touchdowns in 12 starts last season.