Tetairoa McMillan Shines as Rookie of the Year Contender

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – If the NFL season ended today, former Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan would likely be named Rookie of the Year. Playing for the Carolina Panthers, he leads active rookies with an impressive per-play ranking of 80.4, according to Pro Football Focus.

McMillan has recorded 54 catches for 748 yards this season, placing him sixth in NFL receiving. As he heads into Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, he stands out among other rookie contenders like Dallas defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku and Philadelphia linebacker Jihaad Campbell, who are ranked below him.

Meanwhile, another former Arizona standout, Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz, is also making headlines. He is averaging 30.6 points per game this season, ranking fifth in the NBA. Markkanen has put up two standout performances with games scoring 51 and 47 points, trailing only superstars Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo in scoring.

Arizona’s quarterback Noah Fifita has also garnered attention. He recently broke the University of Arizona career touchdown-pass record with 68. While some fans are calling for a statue in his honor, observers argue for caution, noting that he still trails far behind records in other conferences.

In other local sports news, Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno made an appearance at the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet last week, reminiscing about his high school days with inductees Steve Owen and Dan Noli. The emotional ceremony featured former Sahuaro High pitcher Marc Barcelo, who was the 1993 Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year, ending his speech with an enthusiastic “Go Sun Devils.”

Lastly, Adia Barnes’ debut season with the SMU Mustangs has faced challenges, including a tough loss against Grand Canyon, where the team shot only 1 for 17 from 3-point range. This performance echoes her early struggles during her first season at Arizona.