Pitt DB Declares for NFL Draft

A key Pitt Panthers defender has entered his name into the NFL Draft.

Oct 14, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Donovan McMillon (3) reacts after a defensive stop against the Louisville Cardinals during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers will have one of their defensive backs depart for the highest level of professional football after their collegiate career.

Senior defensive back Donovan McMillon announced on Twitter that he is declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft, signalling the end of his college football career. He had no more years of eligibility after playing four full seasons.

Thank you Pittsburgh! 💛💙 pic.twitter.com/2lEdEXdVVB

— Donovan McMillon (@donovanmcmillo3) December 28, 2024

McMillon, who played for nearby Peters Township High School, spent his first two seasons in college at Florida. He played in all 13 games as a freshman in 2021, making 10 tackles (six solo) and then played in 12 games as a sophomore in 2022, making 20 tackles (12 solo) and one tackle for loss, serving as a special teams ace. 

Following the end of the 2022 season, McMillon would transfer from Florida and go back home to Pitt, enrolling mid-year. 

He played in all 12 games for the Panthers in 2023, starting eight at strong safety. He made 105 tackles (54 solo), one pass defended and one forced fumble, earning him an All-ACC Honourable Mention. His 105 tackles led the team and finished as the most since Jordan Whitehead had 109 in 2015.

One of McMillon's best games came against West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl, where he made 18 tackles, the second most of any defensive player under head coach Pat Narduzzi.

He had a team-high 115 tackles (55 solo), along with eight pass breakup and one forced fumble this season. This made him the first Pitt player to finish with 100+ tackles in back-to-back seasons since linebacker Scott McKillop did it in 2007 and 2008.

He made a season-high 15 tackles (10 solo) in the comeback win over Cincinnati on the road in Week 2. He also posted double-digit tackles against West Virginia at home in Week 3, North Carolina on the road in Week 6 and Cal at home in Week 7.

McMillon made an interception in the win over the Kent State Golden Flashes in the season opener at home and forced a fumble vs. the Mountaineers.

He finished with 220 tackles (109 solo), two tackles for loss, one interception, nine passes defended and two forced fumbles in 25 games for the Panthers the past two seasons.

He also accepted an invite to the Hula Bowl a college football all-star game that will take place on Jan. 11, 2025 at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Fla. that will help boost his draft stock.

McMillon is one of four Pitt players who have accepted invites to bowls later on in the season. This includes redshirt senior placekicker Ben Sauls and senior wide receiver Konata Mumpfield playing in the East-West Shrine Bowl and senior tight end Gavin Bartholomew playing in the Senior Bowl.

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