Tetairoa McMillan, a Waimanalo native who became a top wide receiver prospect on the mainland, was taken eighth overall by the Carolina Panthers on Day 1 of the NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wis., on Thursday.

McMillan, who attended Servite High School in Anaheim, Calif., spent three years at Arizona before becoming the second receiver taken in the 2025 draft. Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 2.

He raised his arms as he made his way onto the stage at Lambeau Field, hugged Roger Goodell and placed a lei on the commissioner.

McMillan, nicknamed, “T-Mac,” wore a “N4LO” chain. He wore No. 4 at Arizona.

“Oh man, it’s a blessing,” McMillan told the ESPN broadcast of becoming the latest player of Polynesian descent from Hawaii to make it to the NFL. “At the end of the day, the people that came before me is the people that laid the foundation and set the precedents for me to be successful today. Shoot, at the end of the day, I’m trying to put on for the Polynesian culture and making everybody proud.”

The 6-foot-5 junior had 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns in the 2024 season. He was named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s top wide receiver and earned a spot on the All-Big 12 first team.

McMillan, who participated in the 2022 Polynesian Bowl on Oahu, became the first Arizona receiver to be taken in the first round.

He will team with quarterback Bryce Young, a Heisman Trophy winner and the first pick of the 2023 draft, and play for second-year head coach Dave Canales. The Panthers went 5-12 in the 2024 season.

“Man, I’m ready to do whatever it takes," he told ESPN. "I know I got a quarterback I can trust in, a coaching staff that believes in me and teammates that are ready to play for me and I’m ready to play for them. Sky’s the limit for this organization and I can’t wait."

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.