McKenzie Milton transferring from UCF: 3 potential fits to finish his career

McKenzie Milton is transferring from UCF and looks to finish his college career as a starter elsewhere.

At the tail end of an undefeated regular season that helped the UCF Knights in the AAC title in 2018, star quarterback McKenzie Milton went down with a catastrophic knee injury that hs sidelines him for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. While there are some questions about his football future, Milton seems to think he has some gas left in the tank. He won’t burn through that gas, however, at UCF.

Milton confirmed that he will be looking to transfer away from Orlando, as Dillon Gabriel seizing the QB1 job has prompted Milton, who threw 64 touchdowns against 15 picks in his last two years as a starter, to seek a starting opportunity elsewhere. Given his productivity at UCF, these three Group of Five schools need to look buying themselves a ticket in the Milton sweepstakes.

McKenzie Milton could finish his college career at one of these schools

1. Hawaii

The native son of Hawaii might find that his best chance for instant playing time and a system that could help him put up numbers could be back in his home state. While a volatile, defensive head coach in Todd Graham might not be the most enticing sell, an offensive staff led by two of the collegiate coaching ranks’ brightest young stars in offensive coordinator GJ Kinne and “Go-Go Offense” mastermind Brennan Marion could help Milton return to Oahu as he looks for a starting job.

Hawaii represents the perfect marriage of everything Milton could want in a new school, as playing in his backyard for a few very creative offensive minds at a program that has been .500 or better in four of the last five seasons could get the college football world and NFL scouts alike interested in him.

2. San Diego State

Under both Rocky Long and Brady Hoke, San Diego State routinely had some of the best rushing attacks and defensive front sevens in the entire country. However, they rarely competed for Mountain West championships due to their paltry production in the passing game. Milton would be the most hyped quarterback the Aztecs have had in years, and he could be the catalyst in a major turnaround.

A coach like Hoke will always have the defense performing well. If Milton can work his magic on offense and add a vertical element to their passing game, the Aztecs should be considered legit contenders in the Mountain West.

3. FIU

The Panthers are currently 0-5, and ditching UCF for another Florida school might seem like a bit of a betrayal, but Milton has to like how Butch Davis took James Morgan from an unknown transfer to a productive two-year starter to a Day 3 NFL Draft pick. Given Milton’s accuracy downfield, he could be in for a similar rise.

If Davis survives this season, he’s going to let Milton air it out and get him ready for the pros. His formula worked for Morgan, who shined at the Shrine Bowl before being picked in the fourth round by the New York Jets, and it could work for Milton as well.

Milton might be too damaged for any Power 5 coach, even his old sensei in Scott Frost over at Nebraska, to take a chance on, as a 5-11, 185-pound quarterback who hasn’t played in two years isn’t super attractive. However, Milton was the catalyst for a historically dominant UCF team the last time he was able to suit up, and that should get schools interested.

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