McKenzie Milton and his family are doing the best they can, considering what they’ve been through, according to Milton’s father.
“We’re positive, as positive as you can be under the circumstances,” Mark Milton said in a phone call Monday.
McKenzie Milton suffered a serious right leg injury during the UCF Knights’ 38-10 college football victory over South Florida on Nov. 23. Doctors needed to act fast to ensure blood continued to circulate through an artery and to make sure the nerves remained intact or he could have lost his leg, according to Mark Milton.
“The (Tampa General Hospital) doctors have been great, and there are a lot of skilled people involved, including (world-renowned orthopedist) James Andrews,” Mark Milton said about the care given to his son, UCF’s starting quarterback and a former Mililani standout. “There are a lot of high-level professionals giving their input. The CEO of the hospital was there at the game.”
Milton confirmed the 21-year-old McKenzie has gone through four surgeries and will have reconstructive surgery in January.
“He’s a fighter,” Mark Milton said. “Hopefully that surgery in January goes well. Things are going as good as can be expected. That injury could have taken his leg. Right now, McKenzie is laying low. The most important thing to him is his health, and that’s the path he is on right now. It will be a long rehab process. He’s young, so he’s got that on his side. A lot of people are praying for him. He’s ready to do whatever he can, God willing. He’s committed to the process of getting in the best shape he can possibly be in.
“You’ve gotta walk before you can trot, you’ve gotta trot before you can jog and you’ve gotta jog before you can run.”
Mark Milton added that Zach Miller of the Chicago Bears, who suffered a similar injury last year, reached out to McKenzie to give him whatever advice he can. In addition, Mark Milton said former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, who suffered a horrific leg injury in 1985, also contacted McKenzie and they had a “good conversation.”
McKenzie’s dad also said McKenzie is involved in quarterback meetings with the Knights (12-0) in the lead-up to the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., against LSU (9-3) on Jan. 1, and that he’ll fly to that game with his teammates.
“I told McKenzie what I think the two most important things are,” Mark Milton said. “One is the man up there, and I pointed up. No. 2, as I pointed to his temples with my two index fingers, is right there. And he has a great mentality.”