NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
ORLANDO — Scott Frost spent more than six weeks assembling and finalizing his assistant coaching staff for UCF, hiring a handful of candidates with whom he’s never previously worked. But it took just 48 hours to make his first choice — someone he’s known for nearly a decade, once recruited across the country and then coached to an historic Knights career.
McKenzie Milton, who accounted for 9,761 yards and 92 touchdowns as the Knights’ starting quarterback from 2016-18, officially returned to Orlando on Dec. 10 when Frost appointed him as quarterbacks coach. The 27-year-old native of Kapolei, Hawai’i spent the last two years as an analyst at Tennessee under another of his former mentors, Josh Heupel.
At the time, Tennessee was preparing for its first-round College Football Playoff road game against eventual champion Ohio State. Milton described the opportunity as “too good to turn down” and one that had Heupel’s support. He returned to Knoxville for game-week preparations after spending 10 days in Orlando laying the foundation with Frost’s skeleton crew.
Way-too-early 2025 predictions: How will UCF Knights do against Bill Belichick, Big 12 schedule?
“It was that whole week from that last regular season game until that following Saturday, hearing murmurs and talking to certain people that (Frost)’s name was in the mix and then talking to Coach. It was an opportunity where it was really hard to say no,” Milton said Feb. 12, his first media availability since the hire. “I left a great place where I was at with great people, but Coach Frost is like a father figure, a big brother. Conversation-wise, he was like, ‘If I take this, are you going to come with me?’ I was like, ‘Man, Coach, you know the answer.'”
Frost alluded to Milton’s potential arrival during his introductory press conference 48 hours earlier.
Terry Mohajir,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/mckenzie-milton-chance-coach-ucf-100201716.html
Author : Daytona Beach News-Journal
Publish date : 2025-02-22 10:02:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
