McKenzie Milton reflects on recovery, return to play in Florida State-Notre Dame matchup

Florida State quarterback McKenzie Milton overcame seemingly impossible odds to return to action on a football field just three years after suffering what doctors thought was a career-ending leg injury.

Milton finished in the top 10 of the Heisman voting twice while playing at UCF, but he hadn’t played in a game since a devastating knee injury suffered against USF on November 23, 2018; the injury left doctors wondering first if they could save his leg and second whether he would walk again. Milton hadn’t played in 1,017 days until Sunday night’s game between Florida State and Notre Dame. Milton, who is in his first year with the Seminoles after an offseason transfer from UCF, entered after starting quarterback Jordan Travis’ helmet came off. Milton came on and never came off.

By the end of the night, Milton had completed 5 of 7 passes for 48 yards, while registering three rushing attempts for 6 yards. He helped orchestrate a substantial Florida State comeback that saw the Seminoles lose on a game-ending field goal from No. 9 Notre Dame in overtime.

“It was one of those bang, bang moments where the helmet pops off and you have to be engaged on the sideline,” Milton said in the postgame press conference, about realizing he was about to enter the game. “The job had to be done to give us a chance to win the game. It was time to roll. I didn’t have time to process any emotions. It felt like it was three years ago and I was just playing ball.”

Revived QB competition?

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell staged a quarterback competition between Milton and eventual starter Jordan Travis throughout the offseason; eventually, Travis won the job, and Milton was named the backup.

“God is real,” Milton said. “That’s the one thing I’d say. God is real. Nobody’s ever come back from an injury like this, and I’m not tooting my horn, but [he] just answered my prayers. Thousands of people praying for me. From the moment I got hurt, coaches believing in me, UCF, to Coach Norvell, to my teammates believing in me. I’m not here without all the support system, all the prayers. It was just in the hands of God.”

The Irish’s win ultimately overshadowed Milton’s return. He reintroduced himself to the nation in storybook fashion, guiding FSU to 18 points in the final 8:56 to send the game to overtime. FSU missed a field goal on the first possession of overtime — it was wide left — while the Irish’s Jonathan Doerer nailed a 41-yard game-winner.

“To me,” Milton said, “you don’t believe in God until this. This is a testimony. With man, this would be impossible, but with God, all things are possible. That’s my beliefs, that’s why I believe I was able to step back on a football field.”