NFL
By: Brock Vierra
The world of college football has finally recognized what Jedd Fisch has been slowly building in the desert for the past three years. The Arizona Wildcats’ performance against USC was just a glimmer into the future. When I wrote about the Wildcats in early September, I talked about their potent passing prowess. I mentioned that their success came at the hands of their two top pass catchers, Jacob Cowing and Tetairoa McMillian. Now I want to take an in-depth look at how these two star players are the NFL’s next great talents.
Against USC, despite playing with a backup QB, Cowing and McMillian went off. McMillian was in sync with backup QB Noah Fifita. McMillian and Fifita were high school classmates at Servite High School in Anaheim, California so when I say both men wanted to ball out in front of their hometown, don’t take it as an understatement. McMillian dominated with 6 receptions for 138 yards. Cowing was even better. His 10 receptions for 88 yards were crucial but it was his four touchdowns that really solidified how much of a game-changer he is.
These men are absolute problems. They’re excellent route runners, they have natural ball instincts, they’re fundamentally sound and they’re always open. Let’s break down each guy and why they’re one to watch.
Jacob Cowing
Jacob Cowing is a burst of energy that is the engine behind this offense. A team captain, the 2023 pre-season Biletnikoff Award shortlist selection had a lot of hype behind him after back-to-back 1000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022. Coming to Arizona by way of UTEP, Cowing was a prolific weapon for Dana Dimel and the Miners. He was a second-team All-Conference USA selection in 2020 and was a first-team All-Conference USA selection in 2021. Since coming to Arizona, Cowing has been the unsung hero of the Wildcats. Many people didn’t notice him because all eyes were on Dorian Singer but now that Singer is at USC, Cowing is getting his due. Oh and in their 2023 matchup, Cowing had four touchdowns with the Wildcats while Singer failed to record a single reception for the Trojans.
In 2022, Singer only had 71 more receiving yards than Cowing while Cowing has 19 more receptions. Cowing also averaged about 12.2 yards per reception last year. Cowing is on pace for another 1000-yard season and has already hit a career-high in single-season touchdowns.
Cowing is undersized and will be forced to play slot in the NFL. However the 5’11, 170-pound receiver is an animal on the field who attacks passes with an aggressive nature while constantly exploiting zone coverages and finding the random pockets of space that defenses leave open He has sure hands, a great center of gravity, and a nose for the endzone. He makes sharp cuts, he makes tacklers miss and I see a lot of Kadarius Toney in him if Toney had hands. Cowing will be a day 3 pick at best but his upside is legit. His floor is Khalil Shakir and football people know that Shakir being a floor isn’t really a floor.
Tetairoa McMillian
The first five-star high school recruit to commit to Arizona, Tetairoa McMillian is a future first-round pick. The 6’5 target is a quarterback’s dream. He can out-muscle defenders, out jump defenders and when the ball is coming his way, he makes defenders look silly either through his ability to make contested catches or how shifty he is once he gets the ball in his hands.
A starter as a true freshman, McMillian racked up 39 receptions for 702 yards and 8 touchdowns. A gamer who likes to come alive for the big occasions, his performance against USC wasn’t his first time torching a top opponent. In 2022, Arizona played four ranked opponents. McMillian scored three touchdowns in those matchups. Remember, he was the WR3 in those games. Against Washington who won 11 games in 2022, McMillian had his best-ever performance up to that point with 7 receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2023, it’s the same high level of consistency with him. Against #7 Washington, McMillian has 6 catches for 45 yards and two touchdowns. Oh, and that was with a nagging arm injury. He had 6 receptions for 138 yards against #9 USC. McMillian also had 8 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown in Arizona’s OT loss at Mississippi State. McMillian is on pace for a 1000-yard season and a double-digit touchdown mark. What makes him so effective is his length and how he frames his body. He understands the size he has and how to use it against opponents. He’s always open, he has excellent feet and he makes plays. He also turned 20 in April so he is only in the infancy of his development.
These two studs will have excellent futures in football. Their skills are undeniable and they play in an offense that makes the most of them. Jacob Cowing and Tetairoa McMillian. Two for the future.
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