Meanwhile, another true freshman is in the portal
One of the biggest pieces of Arizona’s offense won’t participate in Saturday’s Spring Game. And with fall camp not starting until late July, it’s going to be a while before he’s seen in action by the public.
UA coach Brent Brennan announced Thursday that wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan had “a little procedure” on Wednesday, noting that he is expected to be healthy for the start of the 2024 season.
“We’re expecting a full recovery,” Brennan said. “I think you’ve see him cruising around on a scooter. He’s in good spirits. He’s a total warrior and we expect him back this season.”
McMillan, a projected first round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, appeared in suffer a lower leg injury late in last Saturday’s practice. He limped off the field and did not return, and Tuesday and Thursday was seen with a boot on his left foot.
Brennan did not provide details on the type of procedure or a timeline for McMillan’s return.
“It’ll take a little time,” he said.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound McMillan has started 21 games the past two seasons for the UA, leading the Wildcats with 1,402 receiving yards in 2023. His 2,104 career yards ranks eighth in school history and he’s 1,248 yards away from breaking the school record held by current receivers coach Bobby Wade.
McMillan, along with quarterback and longtime friend Noah Fifita, have been credited with keeping together the bulk of Arizona’s team after Jedd Fisch left for Washington in mid-January.
Jordan Washington enters portal
Not long after Fisch’s departure, the majority of the players he signed in the 2024 recruiting class followed him to Seattle, including several who had already enrolled at the UA. Jordan Washington opted to stick with Arizona, participating in spring practice.
Now he’s in the NCAA transfer portal, entering Thursday and becoming the sixth UA player to go in this spring.
A 4-star prospect out of Long Beach, Calif., the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Washington was the No. 340 overall prospect in 2024 according to 247Sports. He picked the Wildcats over offers from Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Oregon, San Jose State and Washington.
Washington’s departure leaves Arizona with three scholarship running backs on the roster: senior Quali Conley, junior Rayshon ‘Speedy’ Luke and redshirt freshman Brandon Johnson. The Wildcats were supposed to be adding former Alabama State/New Mexico RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt this summer but he has since flipped to New Mexico.
Arizona had ex-Oregon State rusher Damien Martinez, the 2022 Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, in for a visit last week and are battling with Miami and Mississippi State for the projected 2025 draft pick.
Washington is the ninth prep signee from the 2024 class to either enter the portal or ask out of their national letter of intent with Arizona. Of that group, almost all have ended up in Seattle with Fisch.