WONDER BOYS
UCF’s Milton, Heupel share game-changing connection
Twenty years may separate McKenzie Milton and Josh Heupel in age, but the connection between the UCF quarterback and his new coach is strong. Both grew up in households surrounded by the game of football. Both grew up playing quarterback. Both led their respective college teams to undefeated seasons. Both have felt the burden that comes with lofty expectations. “I was excited when they announced him as head coach. I heard about his résumé and who he worked with and what he did as a player,” Milton said of Heupel, who starred at Oklahoma. “Just the way he’s grown on me from the time I met in January up to now has been a blessing.”
The time Milton spends with Heupel away from the field has been equally as important as the time they share on it.
“It’s not just football, it’s about life. The things I struggle with, the things he struggled with as a player,” the junior said of the conversations between the two. “He’s a guy that’s been in my shoes: a quarterback at a huge university with high expectations. “I think it’s big having some advice from a guy like that.” Milton is looking to build on a stellar 2017 season during which he established or tied several single-season school records, including passing yards (4,037), passing touchdowns (37) and rushing yards by a quarterback (613). Along the way, he established himself as one of the most proficient passers in the country. He earned American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors and a top-10 spot in Heisman Trophy voting.
“He knows his job from A-to-Z and he can rewind and tell you everything that’s going on with all 11 players on offense and he’s got a really good understanding of the defense,” Heupel said of Milton. “He’s put a lot work in since January and I’m really proud of him.”
Some of that work includes Milton’s participation in the Manning Passing Academy and the Elite 11 Experience. Both offered him the opportunity to learn from some of the greats in the business, including Peyton and Eli Manning, while working alongside some of the top
quarterbacks in the country — fellow Hawaiians Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) and Jordan Ta’amu (Ole Miss) as well as Missouri’s Drew Lock, a former Heupel protégé.
“[I told him] pretty much just to be strapped and ready to go every single day because he’s going to expect the same guy every single day,” Lock said of his conversations with Milton.
The Tigers quarterback credits Heupel with building up his confidence which in turn led to a season in which he passed for close to 4,000 yards and 44 touchdowns.
“If you come in and be the same guy every day,” Lock said, “you’re going to get better every single day but if you come in lackadaisical, you’re not going to get better that day.”
Heupel believes the experience of those camps has helped Milton work toward becoming a better overall player. He’s also ready to dispense his own advice.
“Everybody needs coaching. Every player needs to continue to work. Drew Brees, Tom Brady — those players are constantly looking for the avenue or angle that’s going to make them better and give them the edge when they step on the field,” Heupel said.
Heupel isn’t the only one who’s noticed Milton’s development.
“I’ve seen a ton of growth, but I also think that’s because he’s gotten older too,” said Jeff Lebby, UCF’s new quarterbacks coach. “All the little things that he’s more concerned with now than he was a year or two ago are because he’s older, he’s lived it, he’s played it and he’s fine-tuning things.”
Milton has grown as a leader as well, according to fellow UCF quarterback Darriel Mack.
“McKenzie’s being way more of a leader. He’s working on that,” the sophomore said of Milton.
Ole Miss transfer receiver Tre Nixon was immediately impressed by Milton.
“He has that ‘it’ factor,” said Nixon, who previously worked with Rebels quarterback Shea Patterson before transferring to UCF in January. “A lot of quarterbacks who come in have a strong arm or are a big guy. You look at McKenzie and he’s not the biggest guy, but he just has that ‘it’ factor.
“He has that will to win and finds a way to win. He has that chip on his shoulder and I think that’s what I liked about him. You just want to play with a guy like that.”
Some wondered whether Milton might try to follow former coach Scott Frost to Nebraska, but he stayed at UCF and credits Heupel for his continued growth.
“I don’t just look at him as a coach, I look at him as a friend and a father figure as well,” Milton said of Heupel.