Pitt S Donovan McMillon Shines on Dream Pro Day

PITTSBURGH — Western Pennsylvania native Donovan McMillon has dreamed about days like Pitt pro day for as long as he can remember.

Working out in front of scouts and chasing a dream of playing in the NFL has been a goal his entire life.

That dream even led to McMillon and his family turning their McMurray, Pa. yard into a makeshift NFL Combine.

“I’ve dreamed about this day for my whole life. I just posted something on my story on Instagram yesterday, it was like my 11^th or 12^th grade birthday, and we had a combine birthday,” McMillon said. ‘I think I ran a five, six-second long 30-yard dash. We had all these videos of it and I was like, ‘I Just want to be in that position one day.’ The fact that I’ve been blessed the be able to come to pro day, compete and do well, there’s nothing better than that,”

The past 85 days have become that birthday lived over and over again in Florida for the Pitt safety working out with teammate and fellow safety P.J. O’Brien Jr.

“It’s the dog days, I would say, of training,” McMillon said. “I was going out, training like a track athlete. It was 85 days today. I was in Florida. The one thing that’s great about that other than Pittsburgh is it’s warm outside, but doing two workouts a day and it got really repetitive. Throughout this whole process, guys are telling you what you can’t do at the end of the day. You’re trying to stay positive, trying to stay patient. Me being able to go down there and work, I showed consistency, got ready for the day and I shined whenever the moments came.”

When Pitt pro day finally arrived on Wednesday, McMillon grabbed the opportunity and ran with it – literally.

Pitt S Donovan McMillon with a 4.47 unofficial 40-yard dash at the Pitt Pro Day. pic.twitter.com/wtRMbr6AUa

— Nathan Breisinger (@NateBreisinger) March 26, 2025

McMillon posted a 4.47 unofficial time, with some scouts clocking him at an even better time. Standing as one of the bigger safeties in the class at 6-foot-1 5/8, 203 pounds, McMillon wanted to showcase that he could still move at an elite pace.

“That’s the one thing that these scouts and team have been wondering how fast I’m going to be? I think I proved it,” McMillon said. “Being one of the bigger safeties in the draft this year being able to be fast as well. This league is just about speed. At the end of the day, you have to go cover guys like Tyreek Hill and guys who are literally cheetahs on the field. Me being able to go showcase my speed was really important to me and I hit my goal and hopefully that changed some thoughts about me.”

He also added 21 reps on the bench press, a 35-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-5 broad jump, 6.94-second three-cone drill and 4.13 shuttle.

Instant feedback to Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi sounded like McMillon did indeed impress scouts at the UPMC Rooney Complex and opened some eyes.

“Some guys made some money today – Donovan McMillon, Brandon George,” Narduzzi said. “The guys at the combine we all know about. The guys that came out here that didn’t have that opportunity in Indianapolis came out here and did a nice job. Just had the Bills come over and say, ‘We’ve never missed on a guy from Pitt. We love McMillon.”

Incredible Pro Day by Donovan McMillion at @PittFB Pro Day yesterday.

Athleticism was a question for many NFL evaluators before and during the draft process, but he certainly answered those at Pro Day!

Should end up as one of the upper echelon safety athletes in the class.… pic.twitter.com/VPbsrjSPbR

— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) March 27, 2025

When the Peters Township and WPIAL star was coming out of high school, the former four-star committed to Florida and spent two years with the Gators. He then made the decision to return home as he quickly became a starter and racked up back-to-back 100-plus tackle seasons.

“I laugh with Coach Sanders, coach Narduzzi – you can’t make the same mistake twice. Coming to Pittsburgh was the best decision I ever made in my life. Those guys like Coach Narduzzi, Coach Collins, Coach Sanders, Coach Bates, really the whole staff over the past two years have really tore me apart and put me back together to be the best possibly safety I can possibly be on the field,” he said.

McMillon looks to continue the recent success of Pitt safeties drafted into the NFL.

“Having guys like Damar Hamlin, Jordan Whitehead, guys who are in the league right now playing hard snaps and playing well, you’re looking up to those guys all the time.” McMillon said. “We got a board in the DB room, it’s like drafted guys, All-ACC guys and me being able to get on that board this year is amazing. You just go through and follow in their footsteps. With coach Narduzzi’s defense, there’s nothing better for a safety. You’re going to have lots of tackles. You’re going to be able to go show what you have to do to possibly get drafted. There was no better thing than coming back to Pittsburgh and playing in their defense.”

Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Donovan McMillon (3) December 26, 2024 David Hague/PSN

Since playing his final snaps at Pitt, McMillon has showcased his talents at the Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl where he met with roughly 23 NFL teams. He has also held a facetime meeting with the Las Vegas Raiders, lunch with the San Francisco 49ers and says he has two upcoming meetings with the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers.

As for draft day, it will be one full of emotions, but McMillon is excited for what’s next.

“Stressful,” McMillon said when asked what draft day will be like. “Since I can remember, my biggest dream, my biggest goal was to get my name called on that day. There’s going to be ups and downs and I’m going to look at the positives of it and whatever team gets me, I’m going to go out there and put 100 percent effort and be great so we can win football games.”