Donovan McMillon has been named to another top defensive award watchlist.
McMillon — a 6-foot-2, 205-pound safety from McMurray, Pa. — was named to the watchlist for the Bednarik Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football. He was named to the Jim Thorpe Award watchlist last month.
The most recent and only Pitt Panther to win the award was Aaron Donald in 2013.
McMillon recorded 105 tackles (54 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one pass breakup last season as he stepped into the starting lineup in Week 3 against West Virginia.
He had a low missed tackle rate (8.1%, according to PFF) as one of the top run-stoppers on the roster. He tied for the team lead with 32 run stops. He was the first Pitt defender to hit the 100-tackle mark since Jordan Whitehead in 2015, and the only thing holding him back was his lack of “impact” plays.
He turned his focus over the offseason toward making more of those splash plays and becoming a vocal leader on the Pitt defense.
“Whenever you’re going through a new defense, new place, new beginning, you might have worries or be a bit nervous, but now I get to have fun,” McMillon said in the spring. “And when you’re having fun, you get to lead. Being vocal throughout the defense is something I’ve tried to work on because now we’re the old heads on the defensive side of the ball. Being vocal, having fun and trying to not just make plays but splash plays.”
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,” McMillon said in November. “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.”
