UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton is transferring, the program announced Thursday morning. Milton is just two years removed from suffering a gruesome leg injury in UCF’s final game of the 2018 season. Milton officially entered the transfer portal an hour after his announcement, sources told 247Sports.
“A lot of people might say I helped UCF go to new heights and did this for UCF and did that for UCF,” Milton said in a video from the program’s official Twitter account. “UCF has done way more for me and my family than I could ever do for them. The joy has brought me to be able to suit up in the black and gold week in and week out. The joy has been able to watch my little bro D.G. (quarterback Dillon Gabriel) do his thing. The joy I’ve seen bring to my family — my dad, my mom — that’s something I could never repay UCF for. Thank you to the admin, the fans, my teammates.
They saved my leg, too. I wouldn’t be able to play football again if it wasn’t for UCF. I’m just thankful for everything.”
Milton returned to running the scout team in practice in October, a big step in his recovery for an injury that almost caused him to have his leg amputated. During an October interview with ESPN, Milton talked about his health and his comeback to the gridiron.
“This is the most fun I’ve had in two years, being out there with the guys, going up against some good competition and lighting a fire under their butt,” said Milton. “I’m making throws on the move, I’m changing direction not thinking twice about it. I feel normal.”
In three seasons from 2016-2018 with the Knights, Milton completed 61.8% of his passes for 8,683 yards with 72 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. Prior to UFC, Milton was a 247Sports Composite three-star recruit out of Mililani High School in Hawaii.
While Milton has no idea when or if he will check into a game for the Knights, he remains optimistic in his rehab efforts.
“My plan for this year is to continue to rehab and if my number’s called, my number’s called, but I’m going to continue down the path and be the best teammate I can,” Milton continued to ESPN. “We’re 2-2. We’ve got to shake back and try to get in the race to win our conference. I’m going to do my best to get our scout team rolling and get our defense some good looks and continue to help the guys in the quarterback room. I’d love to play, but DG’s rolling so that’s our guy. We’re going to keep rolling with him.
“It’s been fun to watch him do his thing. He’s shattering records already, and he’s going to continue to do that. He’s the right guy for our team right now.”
Milton is not yet officially in the transfer portal, but a reunion with former head coach Scott Frost at Nebraska could make a lot of sense.
“[He] wants to be a coach and we’ve talked a lot, when he’s ready to be a coach, he’s going to come and help us in Nebraska I think and he’ll certainly have the opportunity to if he wants to,” Frost said about Milton in November on Husker Sports Network. “He’s just the type of guy you want around because of who he is and the energy he brings.”
