The Most Dissatisfied Guy in a UW Uniform Might Surprise You

Eleven victories in 13 outings. Stirring wins over Michigan State, Oregon and Texas. A quarterback that led the nation in passing yards per game. An offense that averaged nearly 40 points per game.

With a new coach in Kalen DeBoer, it was Husky football at its finest once more, with this exemplary showing totally erasing the sour taste of a moribund 4-8 season in 2021 and the abrupt in-season coaching firing that came with it.

Jalen McMillan still wasn't satisfied with all of that good stuff that came his way.

Huh?

"I didn't like how the season went for me," the junior wide receiver from Fresno, California, said the other day to an amused press corps.

Let it be known that McMillan caught a team-best 79 passes for 1,098 yards and UW-leading 9 receiving touchdowns while the UW put all of the pieces back together.

His catches were the fourth most all-time in Husky annals while his receiving yards turned up as the seventh-highest total in school history.

Wasn't good enough.

He scored on an electrifying 84-yard touchdown catch against Portland State, the seventh-longest in school history, and went 75 to score against that other Oregon school called the Ducks.

He wrapped up last season by scoring the final touchdown and providing what amounted to the winning points in the Huskies' 27-20 victory over Texas in the Alamo Bowl.

Not nearly filling enough.

"I know there was more in the tank for me," McMillan said.

He shared all of this one day in the weight room with an extremely surprised DeBoer. The coach was making small talk, telling his top pass-catcher how he thought his season went, when McMillan interrupted him.

"I was like, 'Coach, I'm coming back,' " McMillan said. "He like looked at me like what?"

DeBoer needed a moment to regroup and respond.

"He was like, 'OK, cool. Let's do it then,' " McMillan said, enjoying the memory.

Now if you thought being a cornerback in coverage on this guy was challenging enough, trying to keep up with his thought process as a media member.

So here was McMillan the other day, a few weeks before another season starts up, stopping and starting with other inquiries.

Such as his punt-returning skills: He promised to run one back this season.

Against who?

"I want to do it in the Oregon game," he said, drawing laughs.

Finally, asked about the UW joining the Big Ten, McMillan noted how crazy this was for everyone, but pointed out it was big-time football and would be good for the Huskies.

He still has a year of eligibility remaining once the coming season ends so could he possibly be dissatisfied once more and return in 2024 to face a Michigan or Ohio State?

"Yeah, maybe, maybe," he said, smirking and laughing in an unconvincing manner.

Better plan on watching Jalen McMillan in a Husky uniform for just one more season. Honest. No, really.

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