“I Finally Felt Like I Was Capable Of Anything”
June 15th, 2025
Jalen McMillan (right) with rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka.
Is there an explanation for Bucs receiver Jalen McMillan catching a ridiculous 7 touchdown passes in his final 5 games of last year’s regular season?
There is.
Asked on The Sports Web about what made “the lights turn on” for him as a rookie late last season, McMillan had a quick answer.
“I developed a sense of belonging. I felt like when I stepped onto the field for that second half [of the season], I finally felt like I was capable of anything I put my mind to, and I really believed it,” McMillan replied. “So, yeah, I just put my mind to it.”
Often, it just takes time for rookies to adjust. Even several Bucs legends had rookie years that weren’t special.
As for Tampa Bay’s first-round pick this season, receiver Emeka Egbuka, McMillan says fans won’t see much of a learning curve.
“Y’all going to have a route runner,” McMillan said before praising Egbuka’s learning rate and calling him “a real pro.”
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