Donovan McMillon Projected to Stay in Pittsburgh

Outside of two years in Florida, Donovan McMillon spent his entire football career in Pittsburgh. If one draftnik is correct, that won’t change next season.

McMillon — a 6-foot-2, 205-pound safety from McMurray, Pa. — was projected to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a recent mock draft by Pro Football Network, picked in the seventh round. He’s the only Pitt player who was predicted to be selected.

It comes as McMillon turned a strong showing at the Hula Bowl into an appearance at the Shrine Bowl this week in Arlington, Texas.

McMillon met with the following NFL teams at the Hula Bowl:

San Francisco 49ers, Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs.

The Shrine Bowl is another prime opportunity for McMillon, capped by the Shrine Bowl itself on Jan. 30 at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. With a strong showing, he could earn himself an invite to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis later this winter.

McMillon is coming off a senior season in which he earned second-team All-ACC honors, leading the Panthers with 115 tackles (55 solo), a tackle for loss, an interception, eight pass breakups and a forced fumble.

His back-to-back 100 tackle seasons at Pitt were the first since linebacker Scott McKillop in 2007-08.

He finished his Pitt career with 220 tackles (109 solo), two tackles for loss, an interception, nine pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He stepped into the starting lineup in Week 3 of the 2023 season, not looking back.

McMillon initially committed to Florida as a four-star recruit out of Peters Township, choosing the Gators over a handful of some of the top programs in college football. But after two seasons in Gainesville, Fla., he needed a fresh start. And decided to come home.

“I just envisioned coming here to play ball,” Donovan McMillon said last season. “That’s all I wanted. At Florida, I don’t think I got the opportunities I really needed and earned but when I got these opportunities here, that was just a blessing for me to be able to go out every week and go make these plays.

“And watching greats like Damar (Hamlin) and all of those guys, that’s something I dreamed to be like and I’m really happy with the opportunity to be in that spot right now.”

It’s early, but it could work out for McMillon with a successful career in his hometown — at the college and professional level.