Former UCF QB McKenzie Milton Nominated for Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award
By Space Coast Daily // October 5, 2021
award recognizes players that have overcome injury, illness or other challenges
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Florida State quarterback McKenzie Milton is a nominee for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America and in association with the Associated Press and the Fiesta Bowl Organization, the Comeback Player of the Year recognizes players that have overcome injury, illness or other challenges.
Milton, from Kapolei, Hawai’i, suffered a catastrophic knee injury while playing for UCF in 2018.
A two-time Heisman Trophy candidate, Milton suffered artery and nerve damage to his leg, a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments and tendons. He nearly had his right leg amputated after the helmet-to-knee hit caused a lack of blood flow to his leg.
Doctors removed a vein from his left leg to help create a new artery for his right leg to restore blood flow and successfully save this leg. The main goal from the surgeons who operated on him was for him to hopefully one day walk without a limp and without pain.
After eight surgical procedures, he persevered through more than 1,000 days of rehabilitation, and in December 2020, transferred to Florida State.
Milton entered FSU’s season opener against No. 9 Notre Dame in the fourth quarter and led a pair of scoring drives to tie the game and force overtime. In four games this season, Milton is 58-of-93 passing for 548 yards and two touchdowns.
The Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award will be presented to three winners at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl on January 1, 2022.
