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Heisman watch 2018: 10 dark horse Heisman Trophy candidates

By Brad Berreman

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 01: McKenzie Milton #10 of the UCF Knights looks to pass in the first half against the Auburn Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 01: McKenzie Milton #10 of the UCF Knights looks to pass in the first half against the Auburn Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel-Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel-Getty Images /

1. McKenzie Milton, QB, UCF

After piloting the country’s top scoring offense (48.2 points per game) to an undefeated season, and finishing second in the country in passer rating (179.3), it’s easy to see last year as an unrepeatable high point for Milton. But Josh Heupel is coming in to replace Scott Frost as head coach, after serving as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Missouri. In two years there, he helped make Drew Lock into an NFL prospect and the Tigers’ offense became one of the better in the country.

Coming out of spring practice, there were indications Heupel wants to play at a faster pace then Frost’s offense did last year. A quote from Milton himself and one from Knights’ linebacker Nate Evans confirms it.

“I think we’re a little faster than last year,” quarterback McKenzie Milton told the Orlando Sentinel.

“Way faster than last year,” UCF linebacker Nate Evans chimed in.

Milton also suggested coming out of spring ball that Heupel’s offense will take more shots downfield after he averaged 10.2 yards per attempt last year (second in the country). So doing better than that seems unlikely, but maintaining that level would be fine.

If Milton’s surface stats from last year aren’t impressive enough, without previously mentioning 37 touchdown passes (tied for fourth in the country), just nine interceptions on 395 attempts and a 67.1 percent completion rate (sixth in the country),  Pro Football Focus thought very highly of his work.

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UCF’s non-conference slate is a little tougher this year, with two ACC teams (North Carolina and Pitt) coming on each end of a three-week stretch that includes Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic squad. Another undefeated season is not in the cards, realistically. But numbers at least in line with last season are in the cards for Milton, and an entry into the Heisman conversation is a legitimate possibility.