Release from Florida State

Florida State officially announced the addition of quarterback McKenzie Milton, a graduate transfer from UCF, on Monday. Milton will join the Seminoles in January and be immediately eligible to play in 2021.

“We are fired up to have McKenzie joining our program,” head coach Mike Norvell said. “He is a proven leader who will help us continue to establish a culture of excellence in everything we do here at Florida State. I have seen first-hand McKenzie’s talent, competitive drive and leadership skills which will be incredibly valuable to our team on and off the field. His return from injury has been an inspiration to so many people, and we are looking forward to his next chapter here in Tallahassee.”

Milton led the Knights to wins in each of his last 23 games started, including an undefeated 2017 season and two American Athletic Conference championships, and finished his UCF career with a 27-6 record as a starter. He is the only two-time AAC Offensive Player of the Year and in 2018 was a finalist for the Sullivan Award given to the nation’s top amateur athlete. Milton finished sixth in the 2018 Heisman Trophy voting and eighth in 2017.

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“Florida State speaks for itself,” Milton said. “When you hear FSU and see the Garnet and Gold, that’s something that is rich in history and great players, both past and present. It’s a school you dream about going to as a kid. Getting that opportunity as a 23-year-old man is a perfect way to end my college career. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Norvell from competing against him and then getting to know him better throughout this process, and I’m extremely grateful to have the opportunity to play for him and Coach Dillingham. This is a great opportunity to play at the highest level and be around some great teammates and great players at the same time.

“The process of competing for championships starts now, and I know it’s not going to be easy, but I’m excited for this next chapter. I’m looking forward to being part of the quarterback room and supporting Jordan, Chubba and Tate. They’re going to push me to get better and I’m going to push them to get better. We’re going to hold each other accountable to do the work it takes. Just like at UCF, FSU is going to get my best effort in and out of the locker room. I couldn’t think of a better place to be than FSU.”

McKenzie Milton, a former two-time American Athletic Conference player of the year during his decorated quartetback career at Central Florida, is transferring to the Florida State football team.

Milton, who announced recently that he was planning to play his final season at another school after recovering from a catastrophic leg injury in 2018, confirmed his decision on Twitter and discussed it in an exclusive interview with ESPN.

"You see Florida State, the garnet and gold, it speaks for itself," Milton said. "The notoriety the people that have come through there, Deion Sanders, Charlie Ward, Jameis Winston, it speaks for itself. I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity. It's something I don't take for granted, especially what I've been through the past two years. It's a very special opportunity, and I feel like we can get that thing turned around in the near future."

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Milton said he spoke with FSU coach Mike Norvell and offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham shortly after he entered his name in the transfer portal.

He said they have not guaranteed him the starting position, only an opportunity to compete for it. FSU also returns Jordan Travis, Chubba Purdy and Tate Rodemaker at the position.

Milton, who will be eligible to play in 2021 as a grad transfer, was a three-year starter before being sidelined with the injury that has kept him out of competition for two seasons.

During those three seasons, he passed for 8,683 yards and 72 touchdowns while completing 61.8 percent of his passes. He also is a running threat, who has racked up 9,761 yards of total offense.

Milton is very familiar with Norvell and Dillingham from their time at Memphis, which was one of UCF's chief rivals in the AAC.

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