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Where will McKenzie Milton land next? We have some guesses

Miami? Midwest? Farther west? The UCF quarterback’s possible destinations are intriguing.
 
UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton participates in senior night ceremonies before the Knights' game against USF in 2019. Milton, who has a year of college eligibility remaining, has entered the NCAA transfer portal.
UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton participates in senior night ceremonies before the Knights' game against USF in 2019. Milton, who has a year of college eligibility remaining, has entered the NCAA transfer portal. [ ANDREW J. KRAMER | ZUMAPRESS.com ]
Published Dec. 3, 2020|Updated Dec. 3, 2020

Now that McKenzie Milton and UCF have teamed to issue arguably the most elaborate, poignant transfer announcement in college football history, speculation is percolating over where the onetime Heisman Trophy candidate will play his final season.

Here are our some guesses of where he might — and probably won’t — land:

Related: McKenzie Milton transferring from UCF

Nebraska

Nebraska coach Scott Frost led UCF to a 13-0 season in 2017. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Nebraska coach Scott Frost led UCF to a 13-0 season in 2017. (AP Photo/Holly Hart) [ HOLLY HART | AP ]

In terms of knee-jerk reactions, this makes the most sense. Current Huskers coach Scott Frost recruited Milton to UCF and oversaw the Knights’ surreal 2017 “national championship” season. Nebraska is 10-19 in two-plus seasons on Frost’s watch, and neither of his current QBs — redshirt freshman Luke McCaffrey or junior Adrian Martinez — is setting the world afire. The idea of Milton sweeping in to save his old coach’s job is too tantalizing to ignore.

Hawaii

Would Milton return to his native state to finish his career? Rainbow Warriors coach Todd Graham has overseen some high-octane systems in his day (see Tulsa, 2007-10), though if Milton wants to prove to NFL scouts he can brandish his old form, he’d be better off doing it in a Power Five program in a conventional time zone.

UCLA

The offense in which Milton excelled at UCF is a version of Chip Kelly’s uber-successful system at Oregon, where Frost worked for Kelly and later became Ducks offensive coordinator. If Milton’s not interested in heading all the way back home (to Hawaii) to finish his career, California’s at least three time zones closer. And heaven knows, Kelly needs someone to help him get things going in Westwood, where he’s 9-19 in two-plus seasons.

Miami

Miami quarterback D'Eriq King (1) is expected to head to the NFL after the 2020 season.
Miami quarterback D'Eriq King (1) is expected to head to the NFL after the 2020 season. [ ETHAN HYMAN | The News & Observer ]

After years of offensive futility, the ‘Canes have rediscovered the end zone under star D’Eriq King. But King will probably be headed to the NFL, so Miami might be interested in another one-year patch. Milton might be a good match for Rhett Lashlee’s up-tempo, spread offense.

Florida State

First-year FSU coach Mike Norvell has experienced a turbulent inaugural year in Tallahassee.
First-year FSU coach Mike Norvell has experienced a turbulent inaugural year in Tallahassee. [ DON JUAN MOORE | Don Juan Moore ]

Mike Norvell has seen first-hand what Milton can do; Milton beat Norvell’s Tigers twice in 2017 (including in the American Athletic Conferece title game) during the Knights’ perfect season. Would the Seminoles want a grad transfer as their expected quarterback of the future, Chubba Purdy, continues to mature? And would Milton want to play for a program that’s still rebuilding its offensive line?

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Syracuse

The Orange need help to fix the nation’s No. 109 passing attack, and Milton has thrived in a fast offense like the one Dino Babers runs … assuming Babers is still around next season.

Florida

Florida will be seeking a replacement for Heisman Trophy candidate Kyle Trask in 2021. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida will be seeking a replacement for Heisman Trophy candidate Kyle Trask in 2021. (AP Photo/John Raoux) [ JOHN RAOUX | AP ]

Worth mentioning because Heisman Trophy favorite Kyle Trask is headed to the NFL, and Milton’s dual-threat abilities match what Dan Mullen wants. But UF already has two promising young quarterbacks on its roster (Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson). If Milton wants a place to start, Gainesville probably isn’t his best option.

USF

Forget it already. Just stop.