Notre Dame football: FSU QB McKenzie Milton looks healthy for 2021
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football program opens up their 2021 slate against Florida State, and transfer QB McKenzie Milton looks healthy and ready.
During his time at UCF, McKenzie Milton established himself as one of the premier quarterbacks in college football, getting the job done with his arm and his legs. Unfortunately for Milton, it was his legs that took some serious damage a few years back, as he suffered a potentially life-changing injury against South Florida.
A few years later, Milton is no longer with UCF but is trying to finish up his career with the Florida State Seminoles, a team the Notre Dame football program will open their 2021 slate against. Milton has been in a quarterback battle with Jordan Travis this summer, and the battle still rages on, but Milton could be leaning towards being the starter.
On Thursday, Brett Nevitt from Tomahawk Nation, an SB Nation website, posted that Milton was dominant during practice, and took charge of the offense. When healthy, Milton was one of the best quarterbacks in the country, so him being seemingly ready for the 2021 season should give the Irish defense cause for concern.
Notre Dame football to face elite QBs all season long
Milton would not be the only elite quarterback that the Irish will face this season, as they go up against three others who could be first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder, USC’s Kedon Slovis, and UNC’s Sam Howell are considered some of the best quarterbacks in the country, and the Irish will take on Slovis and Howell in back-to-back weeks.
For now, however, the attention is solely on the Florida State Seminoles, who have been down as of late but are looking to rebound under head coach Mike Norvell. Milton was a winner during his time at UCF, and if he is ready to go in Week 1, defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman has to have a game plan for him, as he is an elite playmaker when healthy.
Florida State is a program the Irish should beat, but Notre Dame football has question marks of their own and is leaning on players who were reserves last season to come in and start in 2021. Milton will be a good team for this offense, as will Travis if he gets the nod, but by the looks of it, the job could be Milton’s to lose.