April 25, 2025 • 10 mins
Anish Shroff sits down with Tetairoa McMillan a day after being selected 8th overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Any Shroff here with the newest Carolina Panther first round pick,
Ted Roald McMillan.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Appreciate you joining us. Welcome to Carolina. Let's give the
fans an opportunity to kind of get to know you.
Start with your journey. You grew up in Hawaii. Describe
what it was like growing up in Hawaii. What are
some of the things that you remember that have kind
of helped you on your journey from Hawaii?
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Man, you know, it was it was a We were
a Polynesian family, so we're big on family, you know,
and big on our faith.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
So I know, I remember spending a lot of time.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
You know, it's different nowadays, but I spent a lot
of time outside the house, whether it's you know, riding
dirt bike, going to the beach, ride a regular bikes
like whatever. You know, we try to stay outside the
house as much as possible as just running around with
my cousins, run around with my.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Siblings, and it was ultibly just a good time. Man.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
What was the benefit growing up playing multiple sports?
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Oh? Yeah, I feel like it's different nowadays. I feel
like people or kids nowadays just start off so young
as far as playing one sport and taking it so serious,
whereas when I grew up, everybody was trying to play
different sports and with no future in mind. It was
kind of just a way to get out the house,
a way to stay out of trouble, a way to
just have.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Fun and just.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Get away from everything. And yeah, sports have definitely definitely
helped me to become a better football player for sure.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
You know, just go ahead, what were the sports that
you played?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
I played, man, I played baseball. I'm gonna just tell
you the ones I played serious. So I played baseball, basketball, football, volleyball.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
What was your best sport growing up? Cause I heard
you were pretty good all at all.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Yeah, it depends on who you ask, depends on who
you ask, but uh, you know, I'm here seeing in
front of you all today, I definitely have to say football.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Football. I heard you were quite the volleyball player and
you got to high point those balls. What was it
about volleyball that you feel translates to being a wide receiver?
Speaker 4 (02:21):
So honestly, just the timing, you know, like you said,
we got a high point the ball and just being
able to time the ball at its highest point and
as well as you know, the body control. I feel
like me being me, being able to move my body
in certain certain ways in the air, and then as
well as you know, being a pogo stick, you know,
being explosive, being explosive, you know, being able to come
(02:45):
off the ground quick and definitely helped me in the
football around for sure.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
As a kid, you moved to California. What was that
transition like?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Uh, it was cool.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
It was normal just because you know, I had my
my parents and my three siblings at the time, so
we pretty much did everything together. So it was no difference,
no no uh translation as far as uh going to Cali.
So yeah, I feel I definitely feel like I had,
you know, a good upbreaking for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
You're a big time recruit coming out of high school.
What made you choose Arizona?
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Oh all right, So I mean I was committed Organ
out of high school. The Organ coaches left about a
week and a half before signing day, and I knew
I wanted to uh enroll into college early. So I
didn't feel comfortable just you know, committed the Organ just
just because that new coach was you know, I only
talked to him twice, so I didn't feel a good
relationship with him, So ultimately just went went to Arizona.
(03:49):
Arizona was my second option. I had built a relationship
with the coaching staff previous and as well as you know,
two of my best friends were committed over there, So
it was kind of just an easy decision for me.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
We're in a world where a guy like you three
years at one school. That's not normal anymore. And I'm
sure you get a successful season, people are calling you
and trying to get you to go somewhere else. What
made you commit and stay with Arizona your entire time?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Shoot, honestly, it was the people in the building. You know,
I want to play with my boys again, my best friends,
and also at the same time, you know, I want
to finish something that I started at Arizona. You know,
I had already built a legacy over there and I
wanted to continue it.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Where does that come from, that idea of finishing what
I started?
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Shoot, probably my my family, my parents, my upbringing. You know,
we I guess we don't like to procrastinate. We always
on top of things. I guess you can say we
get a little in pacing at times, but you know,
we gotta finish when we start.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
You know, just.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
If you put your off, if you put all your
a's in one beast, you know you got to fully commit.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
I know you and Bryce Young go way back. Is
it true? Rival high schools?
Speaker 3 (05:09):
I guess you could say that.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
What do you remember? I think was it twenty nineteen
last time you guys played head to head?
Speaker 3 (05:16):
It was, yeah, twenty nineteen.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Anything that you remember from that game?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Again embarrassed on national television?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Did see the highlights? You had a heck of a
touchdown catching that game?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
It was okay, we was down by fifty at that point.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Probably what did you learn about at that time? The
guy who's now going to be your quarterback?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Uh, shoot on me. I'll tell everybody this.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
You know, he's been He's literally been the best player
at every level. You know, in eighth grade he was
the best player in the country. At fourteen years old.
He went to Cathedral Catholic or I think it was
Cathedral Catholic High School in la as a freshman, bought
out chance was more Day, finished his senior season as
(06:03):
the number one player in the country, went to college,
won the Heisman, and was drafted first overall. So, I mean,
you look at the dude's resume. You know, he's pretty ridiculous,
and you know, I have no doubt in my mind
that you know, he he will one day be the
face of this league.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Had you guys been in touch since then, I know
you did work out recently.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
But you're talking about since he woked me.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
I guess so, uh nah.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
Still hard feelings a little bit, right, I don't, you know,
I'm just happy. You know, I'm fortunate to be able
to be on the receiving and now, you know, not
on the opposite side.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
You get to do the whooping.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, no, exactly for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
So recently it was out there that you two had
worked out together. How did that come about?
Speaker 4 (06:49):
So he trains in Cali, and you know, I was
just so happy to be in Cali at the time,
and I wanted to get some training in and got
connected with a receiver coach, TJ out of Cali, and
we kind of just put it together, like man, you know,
I feel like we should do this, and it really
just went from there.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
What was the chemistry, like, I know, it wasn't a
lot of time.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
What was the chemistry like, I mean, I feel like
it was.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
It was just on point. It was already there, you know,
obviously you know him being such a such a good player.
And then at the end of the day, I got
it just how we played, just because you know, I'm
coming from a lower level than he is, but man,
I felt like we hit it off good. And uh,
you know, hopefully y'all can tune in and see see
what the chemistry looking like on TV soon.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Was there ever any hey Panthers might be interested you
want to put in a word, was there any of
that chatter?
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Uh? No, not to me specifically, more like to you know,
the middlemen.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
What was your first hint, to your first sign that
you might end up being a Carolina.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Panther being able to throw a Bryce? That was my
first time ever throwing with him. And you know, now
we got a lot more to come.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
What stood out to you from your conversations in your
meetings with Dan Morgan and some of the Panther staff.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
Uh, shoot to be honest with you, just to just
to vibe the energy in the facility. You know, they
seem like people that good people to be around, just
have fun but also get serious when it's time to
get serious. So just good people to be around, and
people that's all about their business.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
At the end of the day, I.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Want to give you a chance to set the record straight,
because we see this a lot. In the lead up
to the draft. People get away from the game film
and they focus on other things. And you had people
who were focusing on this video of you talking about
how you watch film and all that kind of stuff.
You want to set the record straight. What's the context
behind that?
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Shoot?
Speaker 4 (08:54):
All was a freshman in college, obviously being young and
dumb and not knowing thinking that this football stuff in
the college and the college football is gonna be sweet.
But you know, I guess you can say I got
humbled a little bit, and I've definitely grown and mature
since then. You know, I generally feel like I wouldn't
be sitting in front of you today just without loving
(09:15):
this game, without watching films. So yeah, that was that
was That was That was younger me, and we definitely
have matur short.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Have you settled on a number?
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Nope, not yet, not yet, not yet.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
What we'll go into making that decision.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Whatever number is available, all.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Right, before we let you go, one thing Panther fans
should look forward to when they see out on the
field this.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Fall Man, you also look forward to a bunch of
points being scored, UH some wins men, and UH Bank
of America Stadium turning up. C.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Mack, Welcome to Carolina.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Appreciate it Man, Thank you
Any Shroff here with the newest Carolina Panther first round pick,
Ted Roald McMillan.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Appreciate you joining us. Welcome to Carolina. Let's give the
fans an opportunity to kind of get to know you.
Start with your journey. You grew up in Hawaii. Describe
what it was like growing up in Hawaii. What are
some of the things that you remember that have kind
of helped you on your journey from Hawaii?
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Man, you know, it was it was a We were
a Polynesian family, so we're big on family, you know,
and big on our faith.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
So I know, I remember spending a lot of time.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
You know, it's different nowadays, but I spent a lot
of time outside the house, whether it's you know, riding
dirt bike, going to the beach, ride a regular bikes
like whatever. You know, we try to stay outside the
house as much as possible as just running around with
my cousins, run around with my.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Siblings, and it was ultibly just a good time. Man.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
What was the benefit growing up playing multiple sports?
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Oh? Yeah, I feel like it's different nowadays. I feel
like people or kids nowadays just start off so young
as far as playing one sport and taking it so serious,
whereas when I grew up, everybody was trying to play
different sports and with no future in mind. It was
kind of just a way to get out the house,
a way to stay out of trouble, a way to
just have.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Fun and just.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Get away from everything. And yeah, sports have definitely definitely
helped me to become a better football player for sure.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
You know, just go ahead, what were the sports that
you played?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
I played, man, I played baseball. I'm gonna just tell
you the ones I played serious. So I played baseball, basketball, football, volleyball.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
What was your best sport growing up? Cause I heard
you were pretty good all at all.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Yeah, it depends on who you ask, depends on who
you ask, but uh, you know, I'm here seeing in
front of you all today, I definitely have to say football.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Football. I heard you were quite the volleyball player and
you got to high point those balls. What was it
about volleyball that you feel translates to being a wide receiver?
Speaker 4 (02:21):
So honestly, just the timing, you know, like you said,
we got a high point the ball and just being
able to time the ball at its highest point and
as well as you know, the body control. I feel
like me being me, being able to move my body
in certain certain ways in the air, and then as
well as you know, being a pogo stick, you know,
being explosive, being explosive, you know, being able to come
(02:45):
off the ground quick and definitely helped me in the
football around for sure.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
As a kid, you moved to California. What was that
transition like?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Uh, it was cool.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
It was normal just because you know, I had my
my parents and my three siblings at the time, so
we pretty much did everything together. So it was no difference,
no no uh translation as far as uh going to Cali.
So yeah, I feel I definitely feel like I had,
you know, a good upbreaking for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
You're a big time recruit coming out of high school.
What made you choose Arizona?
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Oh all right, So I mean I was committed Organ
out of high school. The Organ coaches left about a
week and a half before signing day, and I knew
I wanted to uh enroll into college early. So I
didn't feel comfortable just you know, committed the Organ just
just because that new coach was you know, I only
talked to him twice, so I didn't feel a good
relationship with him, So ultimately just went went to Arizona.
(03:49):
Arizona was my second option. I had built a relationship
with the coaching staff previous and as well as you know,
two of my best friends were committed over there, So
it was kind of just an easy decision for me.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
We're in a world where a guy like you three
years at one school. That's not normal anymore. And I'm
sure you get a successful season, people are calling you
and trying to get you to go somewhere else. What
made you commit and stay with Arizona your entire time?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Shoot, honestly, it was the people in the building. You know,
I want to play with my boys again, my best friends,
and also at the same time, you know, I want
to finish something that I started at Arizona. You know,
I had already built a legacy over there and I
wanted to continue it.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Where does that come from, that idea of finishing what
I started?
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Shoot, probably my my family, my parents, my upbringing. You know,
we I guess we don't like to procrastinate. We always
on top of things. I guess you can say we
get a little in pacing at times, but you know,
we gotta finish when we start.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
You know, just.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
If you put your off, if you put all your
a's in one beast, you know you got to fully commit.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
I know you and Bryce Young go way back. Is
it true? Rival high schools?
Speaker 3 (05:09):
I guess you could say that.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
What do you remember? I think was it twenty nineteen
last time you guys played head to head?
Speaker 3 (05:16):
It was, yeah, twenty nineteen.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Anything that you remember from that game?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Again embarrassed on national television?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Did see the highlights? You had a heck of a
touchdown catching that game?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
It was okay, we was down by fifty at that point.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Probably what did you learn about at that time? The
guy who's now going to be your quarterback?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Uh, shoot on me. I'll tell everybody this.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
You know, he's been He's literally been the best player
at every level. You know, in eighth grade he was
the best player in the country. At fourteen years old.
He went to Cathedral Catholic or I think it was
Cathedral Catholic High School in la as a freshman, bought
out chance was more Day, finished his senior season as
(06:03):
the number one player in the country, went to college,
won the Heisman, and was drafted first overall. So, I mean,
you look at the dude's resume. You know, he's pretty ridiculous,
and you know, I have no doubt in my mind
that you know, he he will one day be the
face of this league.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Had you guys been in touch since then, I know
you did work out recently.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
But you're talking about since he woked me.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
I guess so, uh nah.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
Still hard feelings a little bit, right, I don't, you know,
I'm just happy. You know, I'm fortunate to be able
to be on the receiving and now, you know, not
on the opposite side.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
You get to do the whooping.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, no, exactly for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
So recently it was out there that you two had
worked out together. How did that come about?
Speaker 4 (06:49):
So he trains in Cali, and you know, I was
just so happy to be in Cali at the time,
and I wanted to get some training in and got
connected with a receiver coach, TJ out of Cali, and
we kind of just put it together, like man, you know,
I feel like we should do this, and it really
just went from there.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
What was the chemistry, like, I know, it wasn't a
lot of time.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
What was the chemistry like, I mean, I feel like
it was.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
It was just on point. It was already there, you know,
obviously you know him being such a such a good player.
And then at the end of the day, I got
it just how we played, just because you know, I'm
coming from a lower level than he is, but man,
I felt like we hit it off good. And uh,
you know, hopefully y'all can tune in and see see
what the chemistry looking like on TV soon.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Was there ever any hey Panthers might be interested you
want to put in a word, was there any of
that chatter?
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Uh? No, not to me specifically, more like to you know,
the middlemen.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
What was your first hint, to your first sign that
you might end up being a Carolina.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Panther being able to throw a Bryce? That was my
first time ever throwing with him. And you know, now
we got a lot more to come.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
What stood out to you from your conversations in your
meetings with Dan Morgan and some of the Panther staff.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
Uh, shoot to be honest with you, just to just
to vibe the energy in the facility. You know, they
seem like people that good people to be around, just
have fun but also get serious when it's time to
get serious. So just good people to be around, and
people that's all about their business.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
At the end of the day, I.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Want to give you a chance to set the record straight,
because we see this a lot. In the lead up
to the draft. People get away from the game film
and they focus on other things. And you had people
who were focusing on this video of you talking about
how you watch film and all that kind of stuff.
You want to set the record straight. What's the context
behind that?
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Shoot?
Speaker 4 (08:54):
All was a freshman in college, obviously being young and
dumb and not knowing thinking that this football stuff in
the college and the college football is gonna be sweet.
But you know, I guess you can say I got
humbled a little bit, and I've definitely grown and mature
since then. You know, I generally feel like I wouldn't
be sitting in front of you today just without loving
(09:15):
this game, without watching films. So yeah, that was that
was That was That was younger me, and we definitely
have matur short.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Have you settled on a number?
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Nope, not yet, not yet, not yet.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
What we'll go into making that decision.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Whatever number is available, all.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Right, before we let you go, one thing Panther fans
should look forward to when they see out on the
field this.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Fall Man, you also look forward to a bunch of
points being scored, UH some wins men, and UH Bank
of America Stadium turning up. C.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Mack, Welcome to Carolina.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Appreciate it Man, Thank you
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