McKenzie Milton among nominees for Comeback Player of Year

Nikki Chavanelleby:Nikki Chavanelle•10/07/21•

NikkiChavanelle

It’s no surprise to see Florida State quarterback McKenzie Milton on this week’s Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year nominees list. The former UCF signal-caller is already nationally recognized as the comeback kid after a gruesome leg injury knocked him out of the game for three years.

Milton was the starting quarterback at UCF during its undefeated season in 2017. The quarterback passed for 4,037 yards, 37 touchdowns. He played 10 games the following season and won all of them before suffering the leg injury.

Before this season, the last time Milton played in a game was Nov. 23, 2018. That day he suffered a leg injury that caused artery and nerve damage, a dislocated knee and torn ligaments. He nearly had to have the leg amputated.

In his season debut vs. Notre Dame, Milton led the Seminoles down the field on his first drive after entering late in the game, handing the ball to running back Treshaun Ward for the score. On his second drive, Milton made plays to bring them into field goal range. In a 10-play, 46-yard drive, he ran on his surgically repaired leg for nine yards on two plays.

Florida State ultimately fell 41-38 in overtime, but the return of Milton made the game a must-watch event.

This season, the Hawaii native has split time with quarterback Jordan Travis. Milton, however, has completed 22 more passes than Travis. He has a 62.8% completion percentage but an ugly TD-INT ratio at 2:4. He’s also taken four sacks for the 1-4 Seminoles.

Milton, Chambers, Weaver nominated for Comeback Player

McKenzie Milton joins Sean Chambers, a junior quarterback for the University of Wyoming, and J.J. Weaver, a sophomore linebacker at the University of Kentucky, on the nominees’ list after Week 5.

Ten times during the college football season, a panel of writers, editors and sports information directors from CoSIDA, AP and Touchdown Illustrated recognize three inspiring student-athletes from all levels of college football who have overcome injury, illness, or other challenges.

In December, three of the 30 nominees will be chosen as winners of the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award at a special ceremony during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2022.

More Comeback Player of the Year Nominees 

  • Terrel Bernard (LB, Baylor) 
  • Yohance Burnett (LB, Tulsa)
  • Jack Coan (QB, Notre Dame) 
  • Aidan Hutchinson (DE, Michigan)
  • Brian Kearns, Jr (RB, Stonehill College)
  • John Mitchell (TE, Florida Atlantic)
  • Justyn Ross (WR, Clemson)
  • Avery Samuels (OL, Stetson)
  • Corey Sutton (WR, Appalachian State)