Well, the 2025 NFL Draft is yet to pull up the curtains. Things have already been difficult for the Arizona Wildcats’ wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. He had participated in a fun catch-up session with his fellow competitor, the Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter. As McMillan poured his heart out, it was understandable that he felt undervalued. But how the turntables! McMillan is on his way to end Arizona’s drought in the pro league. And who is the happiest at the moment? It’s his father, Ikaika McMillan. After all, when the world was yet to discover McMillan, his father found talent in him when he was still a toddler. 

Remember that matchup between Arizona and Colorado in 2023? The Wildcats defeated the Buffaloes, finishing 34-31. In that particular game, McMillan played the key role in bringing home the victory by posting nine catches for 107 yards and paired it with a touchdown. But Hunter held no hard feelings and hosted the Wildcats receiver on his podcast. After all, they both once had top-five picks aspirations in the NFL Draft. That’s when McMillan shared how one of his USPs often gets unnoticed. The Buffs’ two-way star asked, “What’s one thing you think NFL scouts don’t talk enough [about] when it comes to your game?”

To which McMillan said, “Shoot! I would probably say toughness. I feel like as a receiver people slip on the toughness aspect of it.” After all, without being tough, the 6-foot-5, 212-pounder would not have been given a ‘4-star recruit’ status coming out of high school. His stats also did a lot of talking. In 37 contests, he caught 213 passes for 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns. But the scouts were still in two minds. As McMillan noted, “But man, they don’t really look at it too much. They don’t really talk about it too much. This year, um, we didn’t do so good, but I feel like I took a lot of hits.” But turns out that the stars aligned in his favor now. On April 24, NBC Sports tweeted, “Ready to Bear Down in Carolina. #KeepPounding.” So what’s the buzz all about?

As the poster had a note under McMillan’s collage, “First Arizona Wildcat WR in history to be selected in the first round of NFL Draft.” McMillan was selected 8th overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2025 NFL Draft. When was the last time the draft made the Wildcats’ fans happy? The last one from Arizona to get an invitation to the NFL Draft Green Room was Rob Gronkowski in 2010. Last season, Marana Native, offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, went 25th overall to the Packers. Arizona now has first-round picks in back-to-back years for the first time since 1999-2000 (Chris McAlister, Trung Canidate). Like his former team, his home squad is on cloud nine, with his dad being the happiest.

Tetairoa McMillan’s journey had his father as his first supporter 

The Arizona wide receiver just completed a dazzling three-year run with the Wildcats and has already become a hot topic in the NFL. Thanks to his dad. When McMillan was just five years old, his dad, Ikaika, was convinced of the little one’s athletic talents while he was playing baseball. Ikaika still remembers the moment to this day. “Just the way he would get ground balls, catch balls, hit balls as a baseball player, and I knew from then, that he was going to be a great athlete.”

However, the confirmation came with McMillan taking control of the gridiron. As the proud father claimed, “Then when came to football, it was like damn, he really is talented.” So, today, his dad is the proudest as McMillan goes off to the pro league with flying colors. Just like his dad, the wide receiver shared a strong bond with his grandmother. McMillan had a humble beginning that started in Waimanalo. As his grandmother, Blanche McMillan, recalled, the young chap loved spending time with her. But had to go back to Hawaii as his education and sports were all there in the mainland.

For his big day, Tetairoa McMillan did not forget to carry the love of his grandmother with him and spread it on the stage. Wearing an all-purple suit and a lei made by his grandmother, he placed a lei around NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell‘s neck. Along with his family, his best friend, too, must be super proud. McMillan had spent the last two seasons catching passes from his best friend and quarterback, Noah Fifita. As after the spring showcase, the signal caller said, “God gave him so many talents, but at the end of the day, he did so much work to put himself in this situation. We know whatever franchise chooses him is going to be incredibly lucky.” May McMillan’s NFL journey give his biggest supporters even bigger reasons to smile.