The idea was more prevalent on Thursday morning. Around eight hours out from when his name would be called on stage, the receiver perused radio row, as he had for a couple of days at that point, signing autographs, taking pictures, and answering a hundred questions about his season and what’s next.
“(It’s) a little bit weird just because I’m the same person that I’ve been,” he laughed. “Where I am today, it’s crazy to think that the goofy little kid that was running up and down the street just in his underwear is sitting here. I’m still that same goofy kid.”
It wasn’t until running into his friend, and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, that the immediate next really started to sink in.
“Excited to see you get that award tonight,” Daniels, last year’s rookie of the year, told McMillan.
“Just trying to follow in your footsteps,” he responded.
Then, finally, Thursday night arrived, along with a bout of nerves McMillan had not felt until the award was on the precipice.
“I mean, I was a little nervous,” he laughed. “I was just a little jittery, but because you never know what can happen.”