Milton practicing, but status still not known
UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton is practicing with the Knights, but it’s still unclear whether he will play during the upcoming football season.
“[Milton’s] doing a lot of really good things,” said UCF coach Josh Heupel, who gave an update on the veteran following practice Thursday. “Everybody’s seen the videos of him when he’s gone up to see his doctor and he’s cleared for more and more activ- ities. He’s doing all the individual work — throwing footballs — and some group work where he definitely doesn’t have a chance to be touched.”
Milton has spent the past 21 months recovering a horrific knee injury he suffered during the Knights’ 2018 regular-season finale against USF at Raymond James Stadium. He was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he had emergency surgery to repair damaged nerves and restore blood flow to his lower right leg. The injury nearly forced doctors to amputate his leg.
He posted positive messages on social media at the start of August about his progress, writing he started a “new phase of recovery” following a key visit to his doctor at the Mayo Clinic.
His mother shared three videos on her Instagram account of the quarterback running, doing lateral slides and putting full weight on his knee. It appeared he had no limitations and had regained much of his range of motion.
Heupel reiterated Milton’s future still depends on the recovery process.
“As training camp goes on, he’ll be able to do more and more things. It’s really just him continuing to push the envelope in his own rehab process and where that leads us to this season and potentially next year,” Heupel added.
Knights adjust to safety protocols
The Knights have met a few times on the practice field so far this preseason as players and staff adjust to the new normal of playing football during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Nothing is status quo of what it was a year ago,” Heupel said of the camp. “It’s changed all summer for our guys. That’s the benefit of having our guys come back in early June and then come back in different ways during the summer. They got accustomed to the protocols here.”
Those safety precautions include health checks upon entering any athletic buildings on campus, multiple handwashing stations and mandatory face masks.
“Our guys have gotten accustomed to it and they’re comfortable with it,” Heupel said. “They believe in the protocols that have been in place and are doing really well with it.”
The team practices with players broken up into pods, while position group meetings are spread out to better achieve ideal social distancing.
“We’re using our indoor [practice field] as a meeting room for some of our guys,” Heupel said. “Our new Roth Athletic Center is completed, and we have enough big rooms in there that some of our small position groups can meet and socially distance while in there as well.”
Pause at start of camp
Heupel said the start of camp was delayed after players raised concerns over their ability to play football during the pandemic.
He said the majority of the players’ questions dealt with issues looming once the season actually kicks off, including gameday protocols being instituted by the American Athletic Conference as well as whether players would receive an additional year of eligibility from the NCAA if they played this season.
“Everybody’s background is completely different,” Heupel said. “Their life experiences, it’s different for all 125 guys. That perspective and that lens that you see COVID-19 through and how it affects your family, you and your future in college football — those are real and valid.
“We had a conversation and were able to educate them on some of those things really quickly. Some of those we told them the NCAA is going to have to answer. When that happened, we kind of pumped the brakes for a day or two.”
During the brief delay of camp, UCF lost another game on its upcoming schedule after FIU announced it was pushing back the start of its season one week. It meant the Knights’ game against the Panthers schedueld for Sept. 12 could not be played.
With no games set for Sept. 5 or 12, Heupel said he decided to switch gears and tweak his plans for camp.
“I felt like the strength and conditioning [workouts] along with the OTAstyle walk-throughs were going to allow us to continue to grow the way that we needed to as a football team,” he said. “… One of the things that have been critical to our success since I’ve been here is our football team being able to be healthy throughout the entire season. When we get to game day, we’re the fastest, freshest team on the field. It’s important to me, it’s important for our staff and it’s important for our players too.
“That week we continued to gain on that side of it before we jumped back on the field.”
Moore making strides
Milton isn’t the only Knight working his way back from a significant injury.
Cornerback Brandon Moore suffered a torn ACL during the team’s 2019 opener against Florida A&M.
The Seminole High product has remained on campus during the pandemic to continue his rehabilitation.
“He’s doing a lot better,” Heupel said of the redshirt senior. “He’s getting close to doing all functional movement and preparing himself to get back out there on the field sometime this fall. He’s done a great job of continuing to battle and handle that rehab process and I’m proud of what he’s done.
“He’ll be back and playing at a championship level, no doubt about it.”