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Mililani’s McKenzie Milton transfers from UCF to Florida State

ASSOCIATED PRESS / 2018
                                Central Florida quarterback McKenzie Milton, right, throws a pass to running back Adrian Killins Jr. (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Navy in Orlando, Fla.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS / 2018

Central Florida quarterback McKenzie Milton, right, throws a pass to running back Adrian Killins Jr. (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Navy in Orlando, Fla.

Quarterback McKenzie Milton won’t be going long in his transfer from the University of Central Florida, just 260 miles up the state to Florida State, it was announced today.

“It’s a great opportunity to play at the biggest level on one of the most historic teams in college football,” Milton told ESPN today.

Milton said last week that he would transfer from UCF, where he had started as a freshman out of Mililani High. He had an array of choices after entering the NCAA transfer portal before settling on the Seminoles.

“You see Florida State, the garnet and gold, it speaks for itself,” Milton told the network. “The (fame of) the people that have come through there, Deion Sanders, Charlie Ward, Jameis Winston, it speaks for itself. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity. It’s something I don’t take for granted, especially what I’ve been through the past two years. It’s a very special opportunity, and I feel like we can get that thing turned around in the near future.”

Milton, who finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2017, suffered severe knee, ligament and nerve injuries in the final regular-season game of 2018 that nearly resulted in the loss of his right leg.

A remarkable comeback has seen him running the scout team in practice for UCF this season and there had been rumors he might play at some point late in the season this year for the Knights.

Milton brought his Trojan understudy, Dillon Gabriel, to the attention of UCF coaches in 2018 and Gabriel became the team’s starting quarterback as freshman in 2019 and has led the nation in passing for much of th 2020 season.

“I know my clock is ticking,” Milton said last week. “I’ve only got one more year to play, and the momentum Dillon has, I wouldn’t want any controversy in the locker room. He’s earned the right to be the starter here at UCF. I see that, and I feel it’s best for both UCF and myself that I move on elsewhere. I’m trying to chase the dream of playing in the NFL, so I’ve got to give myself the best opportunity to do that.”

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