Making of a coach
Injured UCF QB will take on coaching role as he recuperates
ORLANDO, Fla. — Part of the pitch that lured McKenzie Milton from his home state of Hawaii to Central Florida was a pledge by then- Knights coach Scott Frost to put the quarterback on a path to a post- playing career in coaching.
A horrific leg injury in November turned Milton’s long- term plans into his current reality. He is determined to play again, and confident he will — just not this season.
Milton and the upstart Knights have brashly roiled the college football establishment the past two seasons, going 25- 1, proclaiming themselves national champions after an undefeated 2018 and being not at all satisfied with the playoff selection committee’s consolation prizes.
Whether UCF can keep it up without Milton’s magical playmaking is one of the most intriguing stories of the upcoming season. But make no mistake, the guy everyone around Central Florida football calls KZ will contribute to the Knights’ next chapter.
“He’s going to take this year as a coaching role. Absolutely,” second- year UCF coach Josh Heupel said. “And so working fundamentals with our quarterbacks during the offseason. Kind of being in charge of that. Approaching it as a coach in his preparation. He’ll be a part of game planning. I fully expect him to bring ideas to the table, too. He’s not going to sit there and not do that. He did that at the end of last year in the conference championship and bowl games. He’s going to be a critical part.”
Milton has made huge strides since a legal hit by USF defensive back Mazzi Wilkins the day after Thanksgiving sent him into emergency surgery to repair artery damage that could have cost him his leg. Milton got off crutches in April and now wears a thigh- to- calf black brace that supports his tibia while ligaments heal.
“Maybe at first it was uncomfortable, but I’m used to it now. It’s like a part of me,” Milton said in June.
Doctors have told him they want him in the brace until January. It has not kept him out of the weight room with his teammates or from the players- only throwing sessions with quarterbacks and receivers this offseason. He is not yet able to run and walks with a stiff gait. He does 2 ½ hours of physical therapy five days per week.
For now, being limited to coaching is OK. It comes natural.
“I’ve always kind of felt like an extension of a coach,” said Milton, who accounted for 79 touchdowns the past two seasons. “The hours I put in, it’s very similar to the coaches. The amount of film I watch. The way I try to engage in practice. I mean, prior to the injury, just helping the helping the receivers be in the right spots. Talking to the o- line, just getting to understand what they do and being able to slide protections and all that. It’d be like a disservice to the guys if I didn’t help them because I’ve played more ball than anybody in our QB room, so I know I can help them out. And I can help our receivers with recognizing coverages and just being the best ball players they can be.”
UCF entered the spring with four quarterbacks competing to start, but the competition took a turn in July when Darriel Mack Jr., who replaced Milton after the injury, broke his ankle. Mack is expected to be healthy enough to play this season, but not at the beginning. That leaves Notre Dame transfer Brandon Wimbush as the presumptive leading contender ahead of redshirt freshman Quadry Jones and freshman Dillion Gabriel.
Receiver Gabriel Davis said Milton’s knowledge of the entire offense is expert level.
“He’s the smartest player I’ve ever been around. He will be big- time after football for sure when it comes to coaching,” Davis said. “He will definitely be one of the top coaches in the country.”
“UCF has given me so much more than I’ve given them. I know I’ll be connected here for forever, when my time is done,” he said, then added: “I don’t think my time will be done here for a while.”