ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 7, 2022 – The 2022 Hula Bowl is proud to announce the presentation of
the Annual Joe Roth Award to McKenzie Milton, quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles.
Milton was a graduate transfer from University of Central Florida (UCF). Despite suffering what should have been a career-ending knee injury in 2018, during the 2021-2022 season with Florida State, Milton completed 81 passes for 775 yards and three touchdowns.
“It is an honor to present this year’s Joe Roth Award to a player that defied the odds and fought back from such as a devastating injury,” said Nick Logan, Hula Bowl Board member. “McKenzie Milton has shown determination, dedication and athleticism throughout his career on the field.”
Milton, who is from Kapolei, Hawai'i, will be officially honored at the Hula Bowl Hall of Fame dinner on Jan. 13 at the Hilton Alta Monte Springs. The Hula Bowl at the UCF Bounce House on Jan.15 will be the final game of his career.
Milton started 10 games during his freshman year leading the UCF Knights to a 6–6 regular-season record and an appearance in the Cure Bowl. The previous year, UCF went 0–12. During his sophomore year, Milton led them to a 12–0 regular-season record, winning the AAC and eventually leading them to UCF’s first-ever Peach Bowl win whom they played against the SEC runner-up, the Auburn Tigers. Milton was named the AAC offensive player of the year, and he placed eighth in the 2017 Heisman vote.
The following year McKenzie suffered what should have been a career-ending knee injury in the 2018 regular-season finale. Milton experienced artery and nerve damage to his leg, a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments and tendons. He nearly had his right leg amputated after the helmet-to-knee hit caused a lack of blood flow to his leg.
Doctors from Orlando Health’s Jewitt Orthopedic Institute removed a vein from his left leg to create a new artery for his right leg. The procedure restored blood flow and successfully saved Milton’s leg. At the time, the focus of the surgeons was for Milton to one day walk again without a limp and without pain. Following eight surgical procedures, Milton fought through almost three years of rehabilitation, and in December 2020, transferred from UCF to Florida State.
During this college football season, Milton completed 81 of 139 passes (58.3%) for 775 yards and three touchdowns for the Seminoles.
“I cannot think of a more fitting recipient for this year’s Joe Roth Award,” said Logan. “McKenzie embodies the spirit of this award and exemplifies the awards inscription, that ‘not all victories happen on the field with fans. Character is what one does when there are no fans.’”
The Annual Joe Roth Award, an important tradition for the Hula Bowl, was named after Joe Roth, the 1975 quarterback for the University of California Golden Bears, that led the team to a PAC 8 title as co-champions. Roth was a pre-season favorite for the 1976 Heisman Trophy. The season did not progress as planned and rumors circulated about his drop in performance. He finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting and was still named an All-American.
After the season ended, Roth revealed that halfway through it he had been diagnosed with terminal melanoma. Despite his failing health, Roth honored his commitments and played his final domestic All-Star Football game at the Hula Bowl. Roth passed away on Feb. 19, 1977, at the young age of 21. He leaves a legacy of a man committed to faith, humility, and courage.
Milton, like Roth, was a Heisman Trophy candidate (two times for Milton) during his time at UCF.
For more information about the Joe Roth Award, visit https://www.hulabowl.com/events/joe-roth-award-description.html.
About the Hula Bowl
The Hula Bowl was established in 1946 as the Hula Bowl All-Star Football Classic game. The top 100 college football players are selected from across the United States, as well as Australia, Japan, Canada, and Polynesia. Football players are given a great opportunity to perform and impress all 32 NFL Scouts and Player Personnel with their abilities. This All-Star game remains one of the longest-running college football all-star games today. In the past 76 years, the Hula Bowl has hosted Heisman Trophy winners, and many legendary players including Deion Sanders, Vince Ferragamo, Eric Dickerson, Drew Brees, Tony Dorsett, Dan Marino, Jesse Sapolu, Samoa Samoa, Billy Sims, Ricky Williams and more. During this year at the 2021 NFL Draft, the Hula Bowl had over 50 players that were either drafted or became free agents to NFL Teams in pursuing their football careers.
The Hula Bowl football game has historically been featured in January each year on the island of Oahu but will be hosted in Orlando, Florida for 2022. To learn more, please visit https://www.hulabowl.com/.
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For more information, please contact Jason Davis at jason@saltshakermedia.com.