UCF's Milton: 'I'll be playing at a high level again'

LAKE MARY, Fla. (FOX 35 ORLANDO) - University of Central Florida senior quarterback, McKenzie Milton, is back home in Hawaii for the first time since his leg injury. His rehabilitation started in Florida, and he says he is progressing nicely. 

"I felt great, man. It's been a long time coming. Slow, grueling process, but I look at it just knocking it down, block by block, and just taking it one step at a time, literally," he said.

Milton says he is as far along as anyone would expect in the recovery process, adding that he doesn't like to stay too comfortable with the status quo. 

"I thinking, being an athlete, you have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations and relish in those," he says. "I'm working to get better every day. If it hurts, it's just pain leaving the body, so I'm working my butt off to get back on the field."

When asked if the rehab has been as painful, if not more painful, than the actual injury, Milton says emphatically, "one hundred percent" yes.

"When they're ranking on the leg trying to get range of motion back it's much more painful than the initial injury, but...it's a good pain,  because you know you're getting better."
 
Milton wants to return to the field as soon as possible, but mostly wants to be functional and healthy at the end of the day.

"Obviously, I want to play football again, but I want to be able to run around one day when I have kids and play in the passes, play soccer....but I still dream about playing football again, and I'm confident I'll get there. I'll be playing at a high level again."

We all hope so too.