ORLANDO, Fla. — McKenzie Milton will mark an anniversary next week he probably wishes he could forget.
The UCF quarterback nearly lost his leg after suffering a catastrophic right knee injury on Nov. 23, 2018.
During the next few months, Milton went through a variety of surgeries in order to save the nerve in his leg. Nearly 12 months later, he is able to walk with crutches, but he still requires a bulky knee brace.
Milton should be playing his final season with the Knights. Instead, he is essentially another coach. When he’s not doing painful rehabilitation work to strengthen his knee and leg or in the weight room, he can be found in meeting rooms or on the practice field within earshot of his teammates.
“Shoot, I love that guy,” said UCF true freshman quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who took over the full-time starting duties during the second game this season. “I’m so proud of him and the growth he’s making.”
In addition to all of the hard work that goes into his recovery, Milton has found time to help his teammates.
“It’s the greatest thing in the world,” UCF senior tackle Jake Brown said. “I would like to think of him as one of my best friends. I’ve protected him for four years now and there’s nothing like it. I love the kid. I love everything that he does and everything that he stands for. He’s an amazing human being.”
UCF senior tailback Adrian Killins added, “It’s awesome, just knowing that he’s still around is motivation to us that you can’t let an injury or anything get in the way with what you’re trying to accomplish. He has a big support system here at the University of Central Florida and Orlando and he knows that he’s got a bunch of brothers who would be there at any given moment.
“I would do anything for McKenzie and anyone on this staff and on this football team would, too, because they know what he’s been through and what he’s faced and what’s he’s come through from his freshman year to now.”
While he can’t participate on the football field, Milton spends a lot of time on the sidelines during games working with the coaching staff and his teammates. He can sometimes be seen wearing a headset and he is constantly talking with Gabriel and the rest of the quarterbacks.
Milton said the next step after his playing career ends is coaching.
“Football is a beautiful game when it’s done right and honestly, I feel like its a form of art when all 11 pieces are moving the right way,” Milton said Thursday. “I’ve been around some great coaches from coach (Scott) Frost to coach (Josh) Heupel to coach (Jeff) Lebby, so they’re as good as it gets. If I could emulate those guys, when my time comes it would be pretty cool.”
His teammates agree.
“That’s a future head coach right there. A future receivers coach right here,” UCF junior receiver Gabriel Davis said. ” … I’m happy to have him around and he’s the smartest player that I’ve ever been around. When it comes to talking football, it’s like he’s 40 or 50 years old and been in the game. He knows the game like the back of his hand.”
Adds Killins, “A lot of guys are asking him questions and picking his brain.”
Perhaps no one has benefited more from Milton’s tutelage than Gabriel, who arrived at UCF this spring after shattering most of Milton’s high school records while playing at Miliani.
“He’s huge, but the most important part is he’s been a big brother to me and we just goof around and have fun. Obviously, doing our job for the team,” Gabriel said of his friendship with Milton.
Milton has been through a lot during his time at UCF and that experience is something he’s been able to share with Gabriel as the maneuvers his way through his first season as a college player.
Milton has been the true freshman quarterback who played well some moments and turned the ball over the next. He heard the boos. And he suggested Thursday Gabriel is a better quarterback than he was during his true freshman season.
“I tell him every time he steps on there (the field), that just be who you are, be the best player on the field,” Milton said of the advice he gives Gabriel. “Most times when he steps on the field, he’s been the best player on the field. I just tell him that the most important play is the next play and that’s something that I harp on whether you throw a seven-yard touchdown or a 70-yard pick six. You’ve got to move on and keep working.”
Milton said Gabriel could go down as one of the greats in school history.
“I think he’s been good. I’m pretty sure statistically he’s the best guy in the country as a freshman right now. I know there are some naysayers about him but he’s going to be a really, really good football player. Probably a great football player for this program,” Milton said. “He’ll probably beat a lot of my records, maybe all of them and when it’s all said and done, he’ll be one of the greats here.”
While Gabriel may pass him, Milton isn’t giving up on playing football again.
While Milton doesn’t have a timetable for his return and he doesn’t want to rush his recovery. He said the time off has been good for his body, which is normally beat up by this point of the season. He is set to graduate in December and he’ll be enrolling in a master’s program in the spring.
The time on the sidelines as a coach may be beneficial once he returns to the field.
“I think I’ve seen the game from a different perspective,” Milton said. “I think it could help me help the other guys around me; elevate their play just knowing the nuances of the game at a different level. But I feel I’m still going to be the same guy when I do play again. I will give 100 percent of whatever I got for the team.
“Maybe I’ll slide a little bit more,” Milton added with a smile.
