The decision has been made. McKenzie Milton will enter the transfer portal and leave UCF. There will be no moment when he takes the field at the Bounce House to roar of Knight Nation and dazzle UCF fans with his ability. It will happen somewhere else. It will happen wearing a different uniform. It will with a different coach. It will happen, but the question now is where?
Milton will be one of the most unique names in the transfer portal. There is no question he will draw attention but questions exist for both parties.
First, Milton wants a place he can start now. He is not interested in competing for a starting job. His style fits a certain system but Milton will not want to be used as a runner as much. During UCF's run in 2018, before his injury, his body was banged up in so many ways. While Milton wants to show NFL teams he has recovered from his injuries of the past, he will not want to take the physical beating of being used as a runner as often as he did in his three seasons as a starter for UCF.
There are many questions for teams interested in Milton. Despite videos from Milton showcasing his skill set from operating as the scout team QB for UCF, can he take a hit and hits during a game? His speed and arm strength are as strong as ever, but by the start of the 2021 season it will be almost three years since that Friday afternoon in Tampa. McKenzie will visit and workout for teams but no one will run a drill with a blindside rush or ask him to rollout and have a speedy linebacker chase him down from behind.
There will be interested parties in Milton. They will be schools from Power 5 leagues and even some G5 programs who think they have what Milton is seeking. Like any QB seeking a new home, KZ will analyze the offensive line, depth at running back and wide receiver. He will want to meet the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. And those schools will all offer their vision how Milton will be the piece they need to win a championship and the support start is ready to make it all happen. That's what happens in the transfer portal.
One of the biggest, and maybe the most important, item that Milton will weigh is the medical team at any school. For the last two years, UCF trainers, doctors, strength and conditioning staff have worked with Milton basically every day. His new team will need to convince him and his family that they are ready and prepared for whatever lies ahead.
But more fun for fans and the media is guessing where Milton may go. Scott Frost and Nebraska is an obvious place and it may indeed be one of the places strongly considered. Frost was the reason Milton came to UCF and Nebraska is still struggling to find a quarterback to run the offense Frost wants to run. But Nebraska is struggling. It's offensive line has struggled and then there's weather challenges that might not be ideal.
What about FSU? Miami? UCLA? Ole Miss? Hawaii? Sure, maybe. My guess is Milton will focus on schools in warm weather regions. He will head back to Hawaii to celebrate the holidays with his family, but the process to find a new home is already underway. He plans on being ready for spring practice and believes he will be ready to play when the new season begins.
There was nothing easy about this decision and some will wonder if UCF chose the wrong quarterback. That is wrong and unfair. Milton made the choice because he believes Dillon Gabriel has earned the right to not be part of what could have been. He also believes Gabriel has become one of the best quarterbacks in the country, something McKenzie Milton once was. Now he wants to find out if he can be that again...
Final thought: September 17, 2016 McKenzie Milton made his first start as a true freshman. UCF lost to Maryland in double overtime, 30-24. Milton was 21-36 for 260 yards and two touchdown passes. UCF lost its bowl game that season on December 17th. That is the last time McKenzie Milton lost a football game. He has won 24 consecutive games. No quarterback in the country has such a streak when the 2021 season begins.
Photo Credit: Getty Images