Former UCF, FSU QB Milton accepts invite to all-star Hula Bowl in Orlando

McKenzie Milton will be finishing his college football career back where it began: the Bounce House.

The former UCF and FSU quarterback announced Sunday he has accepted an invitation to the 2022 Hula Bowl, which will take place at UCF’s on-campus football stadium Jan. 15 at noon.

“Excited to announce I’ll be playing my last collegiate game where it all started… the bounce house!!” Milton wrote on Twitter.

The Hula Bowl is a college football all-star game featuring some of the best players in the country. The game is traditionally played in Honolulu, but the Hula Bowl’s historic venue, Aloha Stadium, is closed for repairs and upgrades.

Milton led the Knights to 27-6 record as a starter, including undefeated 2017 season, and two American Athletic Conference championships. The Hawaiian high school star suffered a catastrophic knee injury during the regular-season finale in 2018 which forced him to miss the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

After graduating from UCF and completing a long road to recovery, Milton transferred to Florida State to close out his college campaign. Appearing in 6 games for the Seminoles, Milton threw for 775 yards and 3 touchdowns to go along with 6 interceptions while making 4 starts.

Milton was named the ACC’s Brian Piccolo Award winner, which honors the league’s ‘most courageous’ football player and is named for the former Wake Forest and Chicago Bears running back.

The Hula Bowl gives college players one more chance to play in front of scouts from the NFL and other professional football leagues such as the CFL, the new USFL and Arena Football.

At one point the Hula Bowl — first played in 1946 — qualified as the longest-running sporting event in Hawaii. From 197680 the game each year drew more than 45,000 fans.

The game will maintain much of its rich Hawaiian heritage and will continue with its two squads, titled the AINA and KAI, representing the Land and Sea in Hawaiian, according to the bowl’s website.

Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith will return to the sidelines to be the AINA head coach while former Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick will lead the KAI side.

Tickets for the Hula Bowl, starting at $25, can be purchased through TicketMaster, according to organizers.

MARK WALLHEISER/AP Former UCF QB McKenzie Milton played this season for Florida State, where he appeared in six games (starting four) and threw for 775 yards with 3 TDs and 6 INTs.