Last week, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was ranked No. 87 in the NFL’s Top 100 players list after a promising rookie season. He established himself as one of the league’s most productive wide receivers and was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year as a result.
As McMillan was gearing up for his second season in the league, the wide receiver was a no-show at a camp he was supposed to host on July 1.
Tetairoa McMillan Faces Criticism After Mishandling of Youth Camp
The camp was to be held at Reynolds High School, but no one associated with the activity showed up. Instead, parents received an email informing them of the camp’s cancellation. In addition, they were told that their registration had been transferred to a camp hosted by Xavier Legette at Garinger High School, Charlotte.
The NFL community on X blasted McMillan for his no-show at his own camp and for how he handled the issue.
The “For Panthers Fans Only” podcast page on X attached equal blame to FlexWork Sports Management Company and McMillan for mismanaging the situation.
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“TMac gotta work with better people than this. Turns out they didn’t even inform the school they planned on using. Parents have also reported they haven’t received a refund. ($100 ticket) Bad look for TMac and a terrible look for Flex Work. YOU gotta do better,” the account wrote.
TMac gotta work with better people than this. Turns out they didn’t even inform the school they planned on using.
Parents have also reported they haven’t received a refund. ($100 ticket)
Bad look for TMac and a terrible look for Flex Work. @FlexWorkSports YOU gotta do better https://t.co/VqwOZlw9Xu pic.twitter.com/jjEbwX4iz4
— For Panthers Fans Only (Podcast) (@FPFO_Podcast) July 11, 2026
A user put McMillan’s snub down to miscommunication rather than any malice on the wide receiver’s part. “Seems like some miscommunication if none of the Panthers showed up.” he wrote.
A user named Lucas understood the parents’ ire at having their registration transferred from McMillan to Legette. “Imagine thinking your kid is gonna learn from Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette shows up instead. I’d be (expletive), too,” he said on X.
Panthers talk show host Eric White blamed McMillan’s no-show on his management company.
“Take a look at the full article. If anything, this should be a warning to young athletes to do a serious deep dive on a management company before you sign/partner with them,” White wrote.
Another user on X pointed the finger at FlexWork Sports Management Company as the culprits in the McMillan saga. “This isn’t on TMac… shady business by Flexworks… don’t make this a thing people,” he wrote.
This isn’t on TMac… shady business by Flexworks… don’t make this a thing people https://t.co/yKBNQ8VLWg pic.twitter.com/Bof1lnQHf2
— Carolina Dad (@carolinadadshow) July 11, 2026
Some parents also expressed their anger over the mismanagement of the youth camp. “We’re really disappointed about the lack of information and communication,” Alyssa Kowalski, who brought her son to the camp from South Carolina, told Citizen Times. “You have all these children that are looking forward to seeing these players they look up to. It’s very unfortunate you’re letting their dreams go to waste.”
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Another parent named Jason Waldrup said, “No one signed up for Legette in a different town, a different player on a different day in a different month. We all signed up for this camp on this day in Asheville. It’s bizarre that their policy would be we’re changing your whole setup … without asking if that’s what you wanted to do.”
The Panthers selected Legette No. 32 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, via the South Carolina Gamecocks. Last season, he tallied 363 receiving yards on 35 catches, resulting in three touchdowns.
On the other hand, McMillan registered 1,014 receiving yards on 70 catches, resulting in seven touchdowns for the Panthers last season. He earned a PFN Wide Receiver Impact score of 78.6, ranking him at No. 18 in the league.
Scott and Tracy Epley took time off from work to bring their son, Zac, to the camp and were extremely disappointed by the no-show. “We definitely want a refund, but not just for our tickets, for our time,” Epley said. “We’ve lost over $1,000 in wages by missing work today. … It’s frustrating. Something associated with the kids, you’d expect it to be legit.”
FlexWork Sports Management didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment from the Citizen Times after the mishandling of the youth camp.
