When UCF Knights quarterback McKenzie Milton was carted off the field with a devastating leg injury in 2018, many feared his career was over and his life might be altered. Nearly two months removed from the gruesome injury, Milton’s recovery is simply incredible.
Before the gruesome moment in November 2018 against South Florida, Milton was one of the most exciting players in the country. He carried Central Florida’s offense, breaking school records, racking up victories and even more accolades. Suddenly, that all changed after one hit.
Latest on McKenzie Milton’s return from injury
Milton went down in the second half while scrambling for extra yards, suffering a leg injury that led to many looking away and silenced the crowd. UCF’s star was taken off the field on a stretcher with a heavy brace around his leg.
The injury was so bad that doctors had to take a vein out of his left leg to create a new artery in his right leg. He suffered a torn popliteal artery, requiring surgery immediately and he underwent additional operations in the months following.
While he didn’t achieve his goal of playing this past season, Milton was able to walk out with his teammates on Senior Night. Nearly a year to the date he suffered the devastating injury, Milton was back walking on the field.
Milton went to the Mayo Clinic on Tuesday for his latest check-up with doctors. After nearly two years of rehabilitating his right leg and rebuilding his strength, the 22-year-old received more great news.
“KZ [is] all the way back to great health,” Milton’s mother said, (H/T 247 Sports) “McKenzie has experienced healing and miracles that have surprised so many. His evaluation went very well. He will start a new phase of recovery. All I can say is, God, is good!”
Milton also made sure to thank Dr. Bruce Levy, who has helped oversee the full recovery, for all his work.
It’s far from a guarantee that Milton will ever be able to play competitive football again. As we’ve seen from Washington Football Team’s quarterback Alex Smith, with his incredible story, sometimes the seemingly impossible can be accomplished.
Even if Milton can’t play football again, the fact that he has made this kind of progress is remarkable and a credit to his hard work. Being a two-time AAFC Offensive Player of the Year and an Archie Griffin Award winner is impressive, coming back from this is even better.