Prospect Profile: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Evaluation

Releasing from the Line

He is very good in his release from the line of scrimmage. He has a good plan to use his length and physicality to release from any jam, he could be more accurate with his hands and more precise with some details generally when facing press but his patience and ability to stay clean means he can create instant separation shorter routes and quickly stack the CB on vertical routes. When he faces soft press he can use both a speed release and a lethal single move to release quickly into the route, his explosive ability allows him to win well at the line when he isn’t touched. He also does well against off coverage when he can stem into the defender’s blind spot, however he is inconsistent with how he attacks off and bail, sometimes preferring to amble rather than close the cushion quickly. 

Getting Open

He uses his athletic ability and play strength to get open consistently but some of his routes lack some technical refinement necessary to consistently get open at the next level. He can choose to attack routes at less than full speed both in the release, as already mentioned, and when closer to the break-point. He does this normally to maintain any cushion given to him by defenders’ over-respect of his athletic ability, for routes where he is breaking back to the QB. When he gets to the break-point, he can sink his hips well on two-step breaks for his size and makes the transition to perpendicular to the line of scrimmage quickly on speed cuts. His play strength and explosion get him open on most routes against average competition in college but where he needs refinement to succeed against better competition at the next level, is in his line and drive steps out of his breaks. These steps are not precise and can lead to him rising too quickly to his full height, losing his momentum out of the break. He has the ankle flexion and athleticism to get low quickly into the break, despite his size, just doesn’t use it effectively coming out of the break due to his footwork. These deficiencies mean the savvy DB can anticipate his breaks when he slows going into them and the DB with good technique can keep up with him out of his breaks. He has the physical ability to clean these things up and thrive in gaining separation at the next level. He’s good getting open against Zone coverage, he reads coverage well and makes the right adjustments to get open and find the soft spot. He’s also excellent in getting open on broken plays and making life easy for his Quarterback.