The standout performances come easily to Steve Ellis’ mind.
To him, they doubled as harbingers.
This kind of breakout, he insists, was inevitable for Ja’Quan McMillian.
The two crossed paths for only one season (2021) at East Carolina, but all the same, Ellis saw more than enough to know that he knew.
A punch-out on a game-deciding play against Navy. Critical picks against Marshall and SMU. Whenever the Pirates needed a defensive play, McMillian made it.
Sound familiar?
In the midst of McMillian transforming himself from a practice squad player as a rookie into potentially a Pro Bowler in his second pro season, this will also ring familiar to those who play next to McMillian, coach him or have otherwise witnessed his ascendance on a daily basis.