Inside The Panthers

Pitt S Joins Historic Company During Duke Game

Pitt Panthers safety Donovan McMillon has put on a historic first season in blue and gold.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt S Joins Historic Company During Duke Game
Pitt S Joins Historic Company During Duke Game /
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PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers safety Donovan McMillon ended last week's game against Boston College on the cusp of making history and he completed that chase in the first quarter against Duke this week. 

With a hard hit on Duke running back Jaylen Coleman in the first quarter of the regular season finale, McMillon became just the second player to ever record 100 tackles in a season since head coach Pat Narduzzi arrived at Pitt. The last to do it was Jordan Whitehead, now a star safety for the New York Jets, who earned ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors during a historic 2015 season. 

McMillon's 100 tackles come in addition to half a tackle for loss, one pass defended and a forced fumble in less than 12 full games. And to make those numbers even more impressive, he didn't spend all of 2023 as a full-time starter. He rotated in and out of the starting lineup with fellow co-starters Javon McIntyre and P.J. O'Brien but has still been the most productive player on the defense after joining the team this winter as a transfer from Florida. 

"Donovan has been really good," Narduzzi said. "He's been -- I wouldn't say a surprise because that's what we thought we had, and I probably mentioned that before, but Donovan has been a big-time player for us. He makes a lot of plays. He's a guy you trust to make the tackle at that boundary position."

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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