Meet McKenzie Milton

Born in Wahiawa, HI, October 10, 1997, McKenzie William Kanai Milton had a passion for sports since his very beginnings on the island of Oahu. He played baseball, basketball, golf, snow skiing and of course football. He attended Mililani High School where he excelled at golf and football as a three-star dual threat quarterback, being named as the 2014 First Team All State QB in Hawaii, the Hawaii Gatorade Football Player of the Year, and USA Today Hawaii Offensive Player of the Year.  In 2015; KZ was 2^nd team All State behind now Miami Dolphins quarterback., Tua Tagovailoa.

McKenzie chose UCF because of new head coach Scott Frost, the former offensive coordinator of Heisman winning quarterback Marcus Mariota, whom Milton had idolized in high school. McKenzie started 10 games his freshman year leading the Knights to a 6–6 regular season record and an appearance in the Cure Bowl. The previous year, the Knights had gone 0–12. In his Sophomore year, Milton led the Knights to a 12–0 regular season record, winning the AAC and eventually the Peach Bowl against the SEC runner-up Auburn Tigers. Milton was named the AAC offensive player of the year and placed 8th in the Heisman vote for 2017. Milton was named the offensive MVP in the 2018 Peach Bowl, he ended the game 16 of 35 with 242 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. Milton also excelled with his legs, picking up 116 yards on the ground and scoring a touchdown, which led all UCF rushers. This was UCF’s first ever Peach Bowl win, and second New Years Six win in four years. Following the game, the school claimed a national championship.

Some of his biggest accomplishments at UCF included being named the first two time AAC Offensive Player of the Year, finished 8^th in the 2017 Heisman Trophy voting, 6^th in the 2018 Heisman Trophy voting, won the 2017 Archie Griffin National Award, and won his last 23 games as a starter at UCF.  KZ also was a finalist for the prestigious 2018 Sullivan Award recognizing the top amateur athlete in the USA regardless of the sport or gender.  

On November 23, 2018, UCF played the last game of the regular season against in-state rival University of South Florida. Early in the second quarter, Milton pulled the ball on a belly option and ran right. He was tackled by two USF players. This caused Milton to dislocate his knee which led to two years of extensive rehab. On December 13, 2020, Milton announced that he would be transferring to Florida State University to play for coach Mike Norvell.

Aspirations after college include a potential future in the NFL, coaching , or being a football TV game analyst. McKenzie also has an entrepreneurial spirit being a partner in DreamField, helping college players capitalize on their name, image, and likeness.

KZ’s hobbies include:  Listening to music, learning how to play the Ukulele, learning how to be a good fisherman, and learning how to shoot a gun.  He also likes playing golf with his 3 brothers when he sees them and hiking with his friends that he grew up with when he is back in Hawaii.

McKenzie In The News