There’s a dual-threat quarterback from Hawaii starting for an undefeated college team.

Someday that might describe Alabama freshman Tua Tagovailoa, the five-star recruit from Saint Louis School who is backing up Jalen Hurts for the top-ranked Crimson Tide.

But right now, it’s the relatively unheralded McKenzie Milton, a sophomore from Mililani High who has led Central Florida to a 2-0 record as the Knights prepare for a big American Athletic Conference opener.

“We’ve got another tough one coming up with Memphis this week,” Milton said Tuesday in a phone interview.

“Another” because the Knights are coming off a huge 38-10 road victory at Maryland last Saturday — previously undefeated Maryland, which had beaten Texas in its season opener.

This wasn’t just any win. It was a 28-point road triumph for a Group of Five program against a team from a Power Five conference. It’s just the second win against a Big Ten opponent in UCF’s history.

Now listed at 5 feet 11 and 185 pounds, Milton is used to fighting above his weight class. This was also redemption for what happened in his college debut last year; the Terrapins beat the Knights 30-24 in double-overtime, after Milton lost a fumble on UCF’s final possession.

“I think this was very big for our team, a big step forward for our program,” Milton said. “Last year (which UCF finished at 6-7) we were not ready to take that step. It’s a marquee win.”

It’s also impressive considering the Knights had not played since their 61-17 drubbing of Florida International to open the season Aug. 31, after which Hurricane Irma caused postponement of the Memphis game and cancellation of dates with Georgia Tech and Maine.

“There might have been a little bit of rust with a three-week layoff, took us a little time to get our feet under us in game tempo,” Milton said. “They’re a good team, big and physical. But we ended up breaking through and scoring against them, and our defense was lights out. If they’re giving up just 10 points, we’re going to win a lot of games.”

It helped that Maryland was down to its third-string quarterback due to injuries. But that wasn’t why UCF rolled on offense; that was largely due to Milton’s versatility.

He rushed for 94 yards, including a 55-yard jaunt that set up his 6-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Akins that gave the Knights a 21-3 lead in the third quarter.

In addition to 34-for-51 passing with five touchdowns and one interception for 538 yards this season, Milton also leads the Knights in rushing with 98 yards on nine carries.

“I think in any game my feet can help us, and if a play breaks down I can make something happen,” he said. “And I can run out of the read-option if we need that as well. Anything to help our team get going.”

During the layoff, the Knights kept busy by helping others. When players weren’t filling sandbags for homes affected by flooding, they worked at an Orlando food bank. Milton and teammates also worked feeding National Guard soldiers who were based at their indoor practice facility.

“My mom (Teresa) and dad (Mark) were here for the storm, and stayed with me at my apartment,” he said. “We went a day-and-a-half without power, but were pretty well-off compared to a lot of other people.”

After he led Mililani to its first state championship as a junior, Milton originally committed to Hawaii. But Scott Frost, formerly Oregon’s offensive coordinator who coached Marcus Mariota, liked what he’d seen of Milton. When he became UCF’s head coach he got Milton to join him in Orlando.

“The biggest thing is that he has a lot more help around him,” said Frost after the season opener, comparing Milton the sophomore to Milton the true freshman who completed 57.7 percent of his passes for 1,983 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. “We’re better at receiver, we’re better at tight end, we’re better at running back and the O-line played a lot better.”

His high school coach, Rod York, is not surprised with Milton’s early success.

“McKenzie’s always been a guy who just gets it done,” York said. “Height, weight, doesn’t matter. He doesn’t listen to any negative talk. And he’s the guy who is working when only God is watching. It’s lonely when you work out that way, but it’s natural for him.

“The guy has always been hungry to be good.”

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.