Arizona freshman WR Tetairoa McMillan cracks ESPN’s top-50 newcomers list

As Jedd Fisch prepares for his second season leading the Arizona Wildcats, the vibe in Tucson is starting to turn around with some fresh faces on the team.

The Wildcats added a number of impactful transfers, including quarterback Jayden de Laura from Washington State and wide receiver Jacob Cowing from UTEP.

Arizona also brings in a highly-touted freshmen class, one that ranked No. 25 nationally and third in the Pac-12, according to 247Sports.

Of the new freshman on campus in Tucson is the highest-ranked recruit in Arizona’s program history, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.

With high expectations surrounding the true freshman, McMillan made ESPN writer Tom VanHaaren’s top 50 college football newcomers at No. 47.

The 6-foot-4 receiver was ranked the No. 51 player nationally and No. 5 receiver, respectively, per 247Sports. With his long and wiry frame, McMillan could make an immediate impact for the Wildcats.

Arizona needs more playmakers on offense, and McMillan could be a day-one starter at receiver … McMillan has every opportunity to be a target for de Laura this season, and at 6-4, 185 pounds, he has the size to come in and make a difference right away.

McMillan was the only player from an Arizona school to crack VanHaaren’s newcomers list, but the Pac-12 is well-represented thanks to new USC head coach Lincoln Riley’s roster overhaul.

The Trojans are represented early and often, having the No. 1 and No. 2 newcomers in quarterback Caleb Williams and receiver Jordan Addison.

Williams followed Riley to Southern Cal from Oklahoma, while Addison transferred from Pittsburgh after winning the Biletnikoff Award last year as the nation’s best receiver.

That’s not all for the Trojans, with fellow Oklahoma transfer Mario Williams at No. 11, Oregon transfer Travis Dye at No. 14 and true freshman running back Raleek Brown (former Oklahoma commit) at No. 23.

One other Pac-12 school had a player on the list: the intriguing Washington State quarterback transfer Cameron Ward.

Ward, who is set to take de Laura’s old spot with the Cougars, transferred from FCS Incarnate Word, where he put up video game-like numbers.

He threw for 4,468 yards and 47 touchdowns last season but will now face premier FBS talent.

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