South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Milton makes cut for Unitas
UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton continues to earn national recognition for his efforts leading the Knights’ offense.
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, given to the nation’s top quarterback, cut its watch list down to 30 candidates Friday. Milton was among those who made the cut.
The watch list also included Washington’s Jake Browning, West Virginia’s Will Grier and Penn State’s Trace McSorley.
Nominees must be a college senior or fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with their class.
Milton entered the SMU game 84-of-137 passing for 1,223 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has rushed for 198 yards and five TDs on 33 carries.
Gardner lands offer: Sophomore offensive lineman Javonte Gardner has been having a great season for Orlando Jones High and his coach has been singing his praises recently. His performances have already paid big dividends for the 2021 tackle.
Gardner, who was previously
extended a scholarship offer from the Florida Gators coaching staff this past spring, landed another offer Friday night. Prior to Jones knocking off West Orange 41-31, UCF coaches let Tigers head coach Elijah Williams know they also were offering the
6-foot-4, 275-pound Gardner.
“I feel good, getting more exposure,” Gardner said. “Big thanks to Coach Will, taught me everything I needed to know.
“I like [UCF]. All their linemen are pretty good and most of them go to the league and that’s what I’m trying to do. They’re basically one of my top five teams that I want to go to.”
Gardner is excited to have the UCF offer, and he’s equally excited about the possibility of helping establish a Jones pipeline to the hometown university. Freshman quarterback Quadry Jones, who will likely redshirt this season, is already at UCF, and Jones
2019 defensive lineman Raymond Cutts recently committed to the Knights.
“Yeah that helps out a lot because now we have a little chemistry going with UCF,” Gardner said.
Gardner has been paying attention to detail with his blocking techniques and said his long arms and quick feet are some of his biggest attributes. He already understands what having long arms means for an offensive lineman.
“It helps out a lot because most of the time you have speed rushers coming off the edge, so you can get a hand on them when you have longer arms and they can’t really go anywhere,” Gardner said.
UCF assistant coaches Jeff Lebby and Shane Burnham were in attendance Friday night to watch Gardner and Jones knock off West Orange.
“I was told before the game and so everyone was like, ‘Put on for UCF, because they’re out here watching,’ so that’s what I did. I cut loose in front of them,” he said.
Gardner helped pave the way for more than 300 yards rushing for Jones against West Orange and the victory put the Tigers in a great position to garner a high seed in this year’s Class 5A state playoffs.