Tetairoa McMillan volleyball career, explained: How NFL Draft prospect used unique sport to help football career

David Suggs

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Tetairoa McMillan volleyball career, explained: How NFL Draft prospect used unique sport to help football career image

With a 6-4, 219-pound frame and leaping ability that would leave NBA players impressed, it's easy to see why Tetairoa McMillan is such a captivating talent on a football field.

The Arizona product used his considerable gifts to collect more than 3,400 yards and 26 touchdowns across three seasons in Tucson. In his final season with the Wildcats, McMillan nabbed consensus All-American first-team honors. Only three other Arizona alums can claim such an honor.

When attempting to understand McMillan's gridiron exploits, it's easy to pay mind to his physical gifts, but there's another lesser-known trait that McMillan used to ascend the football ladder — the "step close."

The two-step approach sees athletes plant their feet into the terrain before vaulting toward the heavens. It's a common tactic among volleyball players. McMillan knows this all too well.

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"I think [the step close], it's a big reason why I'm efficient at what I do as far as jump balls, 50/50 balls, going up to get it," McMillan told ESPN in 2024. Volleyball plays a huge role in that, for sure."

Before McMillan left cornerbacks dismayed in the college game, he was a volleyball star. Here's what you need to know about his glint on-court career. 

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Tetairoa McMillan volleyball career, explained

McMillan was a jack of all trades as a youngster, trotting across a number of playing surfaces throughout his youth. In high school, he captured nine varsity letters, while dreaming of an MLB future during his formative in Hawai'i.

McMillan found a home on the gridiron, but his heart belongs to volleyball, a sport that quite literally swirls in his blood.

"I tell everybody — and I probably shouldn't say it — that volleyball is my favorite sport," McMillan said. "I probably had the most fun playing it."

McMillan's mother played volleyball in college, as did her brother, who spent more than 25 years coaching the sport in Southern California. A chance encounter between McMillan's mom and Orange Coast Volleyball Club owner and founder Miguel Monterola was enough to start the recruitment process.

"The next thing you know, probably a week later, I was practicing with the team," McMillan said. "I was like, man, whatever, let's play."

McMillan's first practice was savant-like; the 6-3 teenager struck down upon a weary lob like a piston.

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"I've seen enough," Monterola told McMillan's mother. The middle blocker position was his, even if he didn't know exactly what that meant.

"Every club owner was like, 'Are you kidding me? Where do you get this kid from?'" Monterola said. "He was so intimidating, so physical and athletic, and he would trash talk across the net. He had no idea what he was doing, but nobody wanted to go through this guy."

Within a month, OCVC was 14U USA Volleyball boys' junior national champions. McMillan, dubbed "Flyin' Hawai'ian" for his leaping skills, was a major reason why.

"He's one of the most likable guys I've ever met," said UCLA setter Andrew Rowan, a former OCVC captain. "He was just there to ball, have a good time, and try something new. We were stoked to have him. His attitude was, 'Help me as much as you can.' He was open to everything and super coachable. He just wanted to get better."

McMillan spent two years with OCVC. He joined his high school team at Servite, landing a starting spot on the varsity roster as a freshman.

"He was such a natural," said Matt Marrujo, McMillan's former head coach at Servite. "You just let him do his thing." 

McMillan's performances at Servite have an air of mysticism around them. There was his harrowing arm swing, an axe-like motion that produced bursts, not hits. One time, McMillan sent a try barreling into an opposing blocker's hand. He was left with a bent finger — and a sense of dread.

"You could tell he was not blocking him again," said Paka Dutro, McMillan's uncle.

There wasn't an abundance of pathways for McMillan to continue his two-sport career after high school. Just six Power 4 schools — BYU, Ohio State, Penn State, Stanford, UCLA, and USC — offer Division I men's volleyball programs. McMillan took a joint football-volleyball visit to USC and garnered interest from Ohio State and Stanford as a potential two-way star. Rowan, a first-team All-American and USA Volleyball fixture, discussed the possibility of McMillan playing both sports during his recruitment.

In the end, McMillan settled on football. It's hard to say he made the wrong choice — McMillan finished his college career with more yards than any other Wildcat in the program's history.

Nevertheless, his decision to spurn volleyball makes for an interesting debate among those who got to witness his court prowess in all its glory.

"If he continued to play volleyball, he probably could've gone all the way," Dutro said.

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David Suggs

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.