Former UCF, FSU QB McKenzie Milton retires

Former UCF and Florida State quarterback McKenzie Milton is retiring from football, he announced Thursday.

"With the culmination of the 2022 NFL Draft, it has become pretty evident that a path to the NFL is not realistic given the external variables," he wrote on Instagram.

Milton, who led UCF to two AAC titles, posted a 27-6 record as a starter for the Knights from 2016-18 while tossing 72 touchdowns against 22 interceptions. He suffered a major knee injury in November 2018 that almost led to amputation due to ligament, nerve, and artery damage. The injury kept him sidelined in 2019 and 2020.

The 24-year-old transferred to Florida State before the 2021 campaign and logged six appearances, including four starts. He passed for 775 yards and three touchdowns against six picks.

"A lot of people will wonder what if he never got hurt, what if this, what if that? I asked myself those same questions for a while, too," he added. "It wasn't until Nov. 23, 2021 (three-year anniversary of my injury), where I saw my son for the first time on ultrasound and then understood why I went through what I went through. It took three years to put it all in perspective. I get goosebumps thinking about how divine it is that three years to the day I get hurt is the same day I see my baby boy for the first time.

"As much as I love playing QB and being in the locker room with the guys, I know there's no greater opportunity/responsibility in this world than being a father."