For the second straight season, the Arizona Wildcats will have multiple representatives at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis — and one of them could become the highest-selected UA player in NFL Draft history.
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea and kicker Tyler Loop will be among the 300-plus players at the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy from Thursday, Feb. 27 to Sunday, March 2.
Last season, the Wildcats were represented by first-round offensive lineman and Tucson-area native Jordan Morgan, wide receiver Jacob Cowing, tight end Tanner McLachlan and running back Michael Wiley.
With the NFL Draft in Green Bay two months away, the four-day NFL Scouting Combine is a chance for draft-eligible players to improve their draft stock in a series of drills and workouts in addition to interviews with NFL coaches, scouts and general managers.
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Here’s how McMillan, Savaiinaea and Loop currently stand as NFL prospects following their illustrious careers at Arizona.

Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (WO31) poses for a portrait at the NFL Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Indianapolis.
Tetairoa McMillan
Position: Wide receiver
Height, weight: 6-5, 212 pounds
Draft projection: First round
The rundown: In three years at Arizona, McMillan recorded a school-record 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns, which is the third-most in program history.
McMillan, who signed with the UA as the school’s highest-rated prospect in the modern recruiting era, ended his Arizona career with the most career receiving yards in Arizona history, passing current Arizona wide receivers coach Bobby Wade.
McMillan also holds the single-game record for receiving yards (304) and touchdowns (four), which he set in the season opener against New Mexico in August.
McMillan has 1,162 yards after catch in his career, and his 213 career receptions rank fourth in UA history behind Mike Thomas, Wade and Dennis Northcutt. In 2024, McMillan totaled 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns. McMillan also had 430 yards after catch this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, right, flips a salute after hauling in the Wildcats’ only score of the afternoon in the third quarter against Arizona State in the 98th Territorial Cup on Nov. 30, 2024, at Arizona Stadium.
McMillan was named a Biletnikoff Award finalist, Polynesian College Football Player of the Year and also received All-Big 12, Associated Press First-Team All-America and AP All-Big 12 honors. McMillan is the first Wildcat to become a First-Team AP All-American since Scooby Wright in 2014.
McMillan stamped his UA career as one of the most productive offensive players — and he could accomplish something no other Wildcat has done: get selected in the Top 5 of the NFL Draft. Former Arizona linebacker Ricky Hunley, the seventh overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft, is currently the highest-selected Wildcat in draft history.
McMillan — who has drawn comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Evans and Drake London — could potentially land at fourth overall to the New England Patriots after the Pats drafted promising quarterback Drake Maye last season. In his pre-combine mock draft, ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. projected the Los Angeles Chargers to draft McMillan at No. 22 overall because “teams might prioritize other positions on Day 1, pushing guys such as McMillan down the board a little bit.â€
Other first-round teams in need of receivers include the Las Vegas Raiders (No. 6), Carolina Panthers (No. 8) and New Orleans Saints (No. 9). Other receivers expected to land in the first round are Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and Ohio State’s Emeka Ogbuka.
McMillan’s 40-yard dash time and route-running on Saturday at 11 a.m. could determine if he’s selected in the Top 10.
They said it: “Possession receiver with the size and ball skills to create big wins deep. He’s a linear route-runner who wears press coverage early and coasts too often on deep routes, but he has a feel for uncovering underneath and can play over the top of cornerbacks for easier jump-ball wins.
“McMillan is instinctive with a feel for adjusting his routes and working back on throws to make the quarterback’s job easier. He needs to show more consistent play speed and physicality to protect his workspace. His elite ball skills set him apart, though, providing a higher floor as a “Z” option with mismatch value in the slot.” — draft analyst Lance Zierlein

ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea (71) awaits the snap of the football during the Wildcats’ win over Utah on Sept. 28 in Salt Lake City.
Jonah Savaiinaea
Position: Offensive line
Height, weight: 6-5, 336 pounds
Draft projection: First round or Day 2 (rounds 2-3)
The rundown: Savaiinaea was widely considered a sure-fire first-round pick throughout the season, but several mock drafts have the tackle-guard hybrid as an early selection in the second round.
If Savaiinaea is drafted in the first round, with McMillan most likely landing before him, it will mark the first time Arizona has two first-round picks in the same draft since linebacker Chris Singleton (New England Patriots) and defensive end Anthony Smith (Oakland Raiders) in 1990.
Savaiinaea played three positions on Arizona’s offensive line between 2022 and ‘24. In three seasons at Arizona, Savaiinaea played 2,418 snaps — including 1,057 at right tackle, 985 at right guard and 345 at left tackle, according to Pro Football Focus. Savaiinaea allowed eight sacks and five quarterback hits in three seasons, per PFF.
Savaiinaea took over at left tackle in 2024 once redshirt freshman Rhino Tapa’atoutai suffered a season-ending leg injury, but missed the season finale against Arizona State due to a leg injury he suffered against TCU.
Savaiinaea played in the Reese’s Senior Bowl earlier this month and played both right tackle and right guard. His 34â…†arm length was tied for the fifth-longest among tackles — longest for interior offensive linemen — at the Senior Bowl. Even though he’ll likely play guard in the NFL, Savaiinaea has proven to play tackle at an elite level.
Savaiinaea and other offensive linemen will perform on Sunday at 11 a.m.
They said it: “Durable three-year starter who is built like a right guard but has valuable protection experience as a collegiate tackle. Savaiinaea doesn’t have the athleticism to stick at right tackle in the NFL, but can play there in a pinch with some help.
“He’s very wide and can engulf smaller opponents as a base blocker while sealing off double teams and down blocks. His feet often deaden on contact, creating opportunities for defenders to leak through his edges in both the run and pass games. Savaiinaea’s size works to his advantage and he could become a serviceable starting guard in time.†— Zierlein

Arizona kicker Tyler Loop (PK05) poses for a portrait at the NFL football Combine on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 in Indianapolis.
Tyler Loop
Position: Kicker
Height, weight: 6-1, 190 pounds
Draft projection: Day 3 (rounds 4-7) or undrafted
The rundown: After a five-year career, Loop’s 83.8% field-goal rate currently ranks 39th in college football history; it’s also the best mark in Arizona history. Loop’s 327 points are third in school history behind Max Zendejas (360) and Art Luppino (337).
In field goals of at least 50 yards, Loop was 6 for 9 in 2024, which includes a program-record 62-yard field goal. He also owns a single-game school record with five field goals against Texas Tech. In his last two seasons at Arizona, Loop had 126 touchbacks in 140 attempts (90%).
Loop participated in a series of kicking drills at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday. If drafted, Loop will be the first Arizona kicker taken in the NFL Draft since Nick Folk in 2007.
They said it: “Highly experienced kicker with NFL leg strength and consistency of ball flight. Loop plants field goals from 50-plus yards out way up the net, so his make from 62 yards should not have been a shock. ... He should handle kickoff duties and has the athleticism to make a tackle if needed.†— Zierlein
Contact Justin Spears, the Star’s Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports