(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
ORLANDO, Fla. – When the University of Central Florida released its depth chart at the beginning of last season, McKenzie Milton wasn’t even listed as the primary backup quarterback. In fact, Knights head coach Scott Frost and his staff intended to redshirt Milton. But once senior starting quarterback Justin Holman went down with an injury in a Week 2 loss to the Michigan Wolverines, Milton’s redshirt was burned, and he became the starter the next week against the Maryland Terrapins.
Now, at the start of the 2017 season, Milton retains his role as the starter but enters the season in a position he didn’t experience last year: being the team’s starter at the start of the season. That, for the sophomore, doesn’t change his approach.
“I mean, maybe I just feel like I have the reigns a little more, but, I mean, it’s the same,” Milton said after practice on Aug. 29. “You approach it the same. You just come to work every day, and you always gotta be ready to play, whether you’re a 1 or 2. So, you just gotta be—have the mindset ready to play.”
As a true freshman last season, Milton threw for 1,983 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 57 percent of his passes in 10 games. Milton believes he will be better this year, and a large part of that is the year of experience under his belt.
“I think game experience is awesome experience,” Milton said. “Maybe just the speed of the game. And just always know that the most important play is the next play. You can’t dwell on a touchdown, you can’t dwell on a pick. You just gotta move forward and keep keeping on.”
Milton isn’t the only one who thinks he can be better this year. His teammates have seen a lot of growth from the Kapolei, Hawaii, native as well. Sophomore starting running back Jawon Hamilton stands next to Milton almost every play, and he believes Milton is more comfortable.
“McKenzie definitely got a little more comfortable back there,” Hamilton said after practice on Aug. 28. “You can see it in him. You know, I talked to him the other day, and he said he feels more comfortable, you know?… He’s a big playmaker for us.”
Junior receiver Cam Stewart has seen the increase in confidence from Milton, too.
“He’s more confident in himself,” Stewart said after practice on Aug. 29. “He’s more alert and more aware of, like, what’s actually happening, what’s changing on the defense and the schemes and whatnot. So he’s more—he’s communicating more with the receivers so we understand. We’re always on the same page, and I just feel like he’s more vocal now, and so he’s being more directive to the offensive line, receivers and the running backs.”
That communication will assist in a more prepared and more composed Milton. For Frost, Milton was erroneous on some simple plays last season. During the preseason, he’s seen him improve in that regard.
“I think McKenzie’s improved his mechanics,” Frost said during the team’s weekly game-week press conference on Aug. 28. “He’s been a lot more consistent in practice. There were a lot of plays last year that he made. There were also some easy ones that he misfired on or made a wrong read…
“Really looking forward to just seeing him be efficient and be accurate. He made some really good throws last year, like I said, and there were some others where his mechanics broke down…and we missed on some easy things that should’ve extended drives. Those are the kind of plays, when it’s easy, that you have to make, and he’s been making ‘em all in camp.”
Said Stewart on how Milton’s improved his game: “It looks like he’s picked up some speed, I guess. Since 7-on-7, it looks like he just been picking up speed from somewhere, but I don’t know where. But his balls are more accurate now. And it’s like his deep balls have gotten a lot better, so I feel like he took a step forward…coming into this season.”
Milton and the Knights will open their season on Thursday at 6 p.m. at home versus Florida International University. The last time the Panthers visited then-Bright House Networks Stadium was in 2015 when FIU blocked a potential go-ahead field goal in the waning seconds to start the team’s second 0-12 season.
For more on the Knights, as they look to avenge a 2015 loss that began an 0-12 season, follow Ryan Weiss on Twitter at @NDR_RyanWeiss.
