Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan loses out on Biletnikoff Award to Colorado’s Travis Hunter
Dec 12, 2024, 8:38 PM
Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan lost out on the 2024 Fred Biletnikoff Award, which honors the nation’s best pass-catcher, to Colorado two-way player Travis Hunter on Thursday.
McMillan, Hunter and Nick Nash (San Jose State) were the three finalists for the award, and McMillan sought to become the first Wildcats player in program history to win it.
The award is voted on by a committee of 600 college football journalists, commentators, former Biletnikoff Award winners and other former receivers — Marvin Harrison Jr. and Larry Fitzgerald are both on the list of voters, having previously won the award.
Hunter also won the Chuck Bednarik Award for the best defensive player in the country.
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Arizona underachieved in 2024 at 4-8, but their star receiver continued to prove himself as a top target in the sport and NFL Draft prospect.
McMillan finished third in FBS with 1,319 receiving yards on 84 catches. His 7.0 receptions per game rank 11th in FBS, and he caught eight touchdown passes this season.
Hunter ranks sixth in receiving yards with 1,152. His 14 touchdown catches only trail Nash’s 16.
TETAIROA MCMILLAN NOW HAS FOUR TOUCHDOWNS AND 248 RECEIVING YARDS 🔥
IT'S ONLY THE THIRD QUARTER 😳 pic.twitter.com/WD7u2uTluc
— ESPN (@espn) September 1, 2024
McMillan became the program’s all-time receiving leader this year with 3,423-career receiving yards, eclipsing Bobby Wade.
After leading the conference in receiving yards, McMillan landed on the All-Big 12 First Team and AP All-Big 12 First Team.
On Thursday morning, McMillan declared for the NFL Draft, and he is projected to be a high first-round pick. ESPN’s Field Yates on Wednesday released a mock draft with McMillan going No. 7 overall to the Tennessee Titans.
McMillan is a smooth big-bodied wideout with exceptional route-running skills and a huge catch radius. His ability to run the entire route tree at 6-foot-5 and 212 pounds makes him a very distinctive talent, and he has totaled 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight TDs this season.
The highest a UofA player has ever been drafted was No. 7 overall when the Cincinnati Bengals took linebacker Rick Hunley back in 1984. McMillan will challenge that.
