ORLANDO, Fla. – McKenzie Milton, the starting quarterback for the University of Central Florida's football team, is remaining positive in spite of a debilitating knee injury that put him in the hospital for over a week.
Milton has been discharged from Tampa General Hospital, where he was being treated, according to ESPN analyst Maria Taylor. She reported that Milton is currently resting with his family in Orlando and plans to watch UCF's American Athletic Conference Championship game at home with his father.
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The Knights, who are playing against Memphis at 3:30 p.m., will be greeted by a message from their injured teammate, which will play in Spectrum Stadium for all to see. Taylor tweeted out the video, in which Milton is seen thanking those who have supported him.
"I just want to thank everyone who has been sending their thoughts and prayers to me in this recovery process," Milton said. "It means the world to me."
. @UCF_Football McKenzie Milton’s message to his fans and supporters...our thoughts and prayers are with you!! #10Ohana pic.twitter.com/QbeBKVB8Nw
— Maria Taylor (@MariaTaylor) December 1, 2018
Taylor tweeted a statement from Milton on Saturday that revealed the player will need reconstructive surgery in four to six weeks. Doctors are hopeful for a successful recovery, based on the amount of mobility he already has in his toes, according to the statement.
UCF fans have been asked to wear leis when attending Saturday's game in support of Milton, who is from Hawaii. A local business owned by a UCF alum donated over 40,000 leis to help with the effort. Local schools also joined in to offer support, with teachers and students alike tweeting photos of themselves in Hawaiian garb with #10HANA.
If UCF beats Memphis, the team will increase its winning streak to 25 straight games, which would be the longest in the country.