Arizona’s Polynesian influence this season was very noticeable, from the abundance of players on the roster with Polynesian descent to the ceremonial leis that Brent Brennan and other coaches wore on the sidelines. So it only makes sense that the best Poly player in the country be from the Wildcats.
Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was named the 2024 Polynesian Player of the Year on Thursday, adding one more accolade to his impressive college resume ahead of his jump into the NFL. It also follows up his winning the high school version of the award in 2021.
McMillan is coming off a junior season in which he led Arizona with 84 catches for 1,319 and along the way became the school’s career receiving leader. He was named a 1st Team All-Big 12 selection and became a consensus All-American by making the 1st Team of the teams put out by the AFCA, Associated Press, CBS, Pro Football Focus, USA Today and The Athletic. He was also a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award given to the top receiver in the country.
The Polynesian Player of the Year award was created in 2014, and past winners include Marcus Mariota, Tua Tagovailoa and Penei Sewell.