{"id":105299,"date":"2019-12-12T09:45:20","date_gmt":"2019-12-12T14:45:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=105299"},"modified":"2020-02-12T11:03:40","modified_gmt":"2020-02-12T16:03:40","slug":"next-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/next-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"Next Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"

McKenzie Milton scans the football field at Spectrum Stadium from an all-new vantage point for him: a 6th<\/sup>-story suite high above the bowled-in grass. On Dec. 13, the Hawaiian-born UCF quarterback will graduate with a degree in sport and exercise science<\/a>. Milton says he\u2019s excited to walk in his cap and gown. He plans to use his education and playing experience to coach football. Not yet, though. \u201cSomeday,\u201d he says. At the moment he\u2019s craning his neck to get a full view of the field where he led the Knights to national prominence and blossomed into a Heisman Trophy candidate before suffering a devastating leg injury against South Florida on November 23, 2018. \u201cI miss it,\u201d he says of the game that he sees as prominently in his future as it has been in his past.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so grateful God led me to UCF. My story here is not finished.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 McKenzie Milton<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cYou might have a hard time understanding this. <\/strong>But as chaotic as football can be, it\u2019s actually calming to me. My time away from the game has made me realize that it really is an escape. All of your day-to-day problems go away on the field. It\u2019s another reason I\u2019m putting in so much work to play again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see the scar on my leg every day. <\/strong>It reminds me of how far I\u2019ve come. All the surgeries. All the rehab. My leg went from looking terrible to looking better \u2026 to looking terrible again and then better. So when I look at where I am today, I\u2019m excited to think of the plan God has for me a year from now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJanuary could be a big month.<\/strong> Hopefully, the doctors will let me get out of my brace and clear me to start running. If it happens, great. If not, I\u2019ve learned to just bite my lip and keep working.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are three big motivators for me. <\/strong>My family will always be a motivation. There\u2019s also the fact that the struggle to come back is just you against you \u2014 it\u2019s asking yourself, \u201cHow badly do you want this?\u201d And third, (defensive back) Brandon Moore is also recovering from a bad knee injury. We keep each other going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy situation has put a lot of everyday details into perspective. <\/strong>I don\u2019t take walking for granted. Or being able to put shoes on. Some people are never able to do those things. I\u2019m blessed to do whatever I can do and especially to have the people who have supported me.\u201d<\/p>\n