MORGANTOWN — West Virginia is no stranger to being burned by elite receivers, and this weekend’s clash against Arizona’s dynamic star, Tetairoa McMillan, has the potential to ignite chaos.
Coach Neal Brown knows the stakes. “We’ve faced good receivers, but none like him.”
McMillan’s impressive mix of size, speed, and route-running prowess poses a major challenge for a Mountaineers pass defense that ranks a dismal 116th nationally, allowing over 254 yards per game. His freshman season saw him break records with 702 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Last year, he racked up 1,402 yards on 90 catches. This season, he’s already hit 708 yards, starting strong with a jaw-dropping 304-yard, four-touchdown performance against New Mexico.
However, McMillan’s last game saw him held to just 38 yards against Colorado, a testament to how effective top-tier defenses can be. Deion Sanders, Colorado’s coach and a legendary NFL cornerback, knows how to neutralize threats like McMillan.
Brown isn’t underestimating the challenge. “We’d be foolish to play him like everyone else. We can’t just line up and go one-on-one,” he stated. Arizona’s coach, Brent Brennan, echoed the need for creativity in getting McMillan the ball, especially as he’s been frequently double-teamed.
As West Virginia’s secondary struggles, they must prepare for the possibility of being torched by McMillan. Historical performances against WVU highlight the potential for records to be shattered. In a wild 70-63 game against Baylor, Stedman Bailey set a record with 303 yards, but even that wasn’t enough to stop Baylor’s explosive offense, which set records of its own.
Past tormentors like Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown and Larry Fitzgerald have inflicted damage on the Mountaineers, showcasing the legacy of receivers who’ve excelled against them. With McMillan’s elite talent, WVU’s defensive coordinator, Jordan Lesley, knows the urgency. “He’s as good as anyone we’ll see,” he warned.
The pressure is on. The Mountaineers must find a way to contain this wildfire of talent before it engulfs their defense. Will they rise to the occasion or get scorched once again?
