Donovan McMillon Gave Back While in Dallas for Shrine Bowl

Donovan McMillon is in Arlington, Tx. for business, turning a successful Hula Bowl showing into a Shrine Bowl appearance, but he’s never been one to lose sight of the bigger picture.

In the midst of preparing for a big Shrine Bowl appearance on Thursday night, McMillon — a 6-foot-2, 205-pound safety from McMurray, Pa. –made it out to Globe Life Field, the home of the Texas Rangers, to spend some time with patients at the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.

“There’s so many things bigger than football, but it’s more fun to just get together and have fun and put a smile on their face,” Donovan McMillon told Kendra Sheehan of WAC Sports. “Getting a chance to be around us and be around them, challenging them, they’re beating us in competitions, dance-offs, agilities and it’s a really great opportunity.

“I do it for myself and my family, one thing is I’ve had a goal since I was a kid, since I can remember, to play in the National Football League and I’m one step away, I gotta keep pushing one day at a time and opportunities like this get to take my mind off it and it’s all great.”

Such a special morning at @GlobeLifeField with the @ShrineBowl players interacting with some Shriner's patients.@donovanmcmillo3 from @Pitt_FB truly understood the message "bigger than football" and I could tell he was having a blast out there today pic.twitter.com/T9CtqaRH5m

— Kendra Sheehan (@Kendrasheehan_) January 30, 2025

McMillon eventually started for the West team at the Shrine Bowl on Thursday night, and while the West fell, another good week of practice has his draft stock on the rise.

And it comes after he 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 strong showing at the Shrine Bowl, one of the premier All-Star events for NFL hopefuls, could lead to an eventual invite to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis next month. And with the Combine, and Pitt Pro Day in March, McMillon has the chance to cement his status.

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.