UCF is arguably one of SEC fans’ most-hated college football teams outside the conference as Knights fans have sparred with Alabama, Auburn, Florida and LSU fanbases (among others) in recent seasons, but all that was put aside Thanksgiving weekend when Central Florida QB McKenzie Milton suffered a severe knee injury in which he nearly lost his leg due to damage to the popliteal artery.

Since then, Milton has had college football fans around the country pulling for him and hoping to see him back on the gridiron. He shared a recent progress report on his recovery with Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel.

“I’m finally able to start weight bearing this past three weeks and I can put 75 pounds of pressure on (the right leg),” Milton told Murschel. “I’m basically walking with crutches until I reach my full weight and then I’m allowed to start walking, which could be around the end of April.”

Even though he’s using crutches and can only put 75 pounds of pressure on the leg, Milton remains involved with the Knights. Murschel’s article notes that Milton gets up at 6 a.m. before heading to the football offices for the quarterback meetings. Milton watches practices and works out in the team weight room.

A return to college football in 2019, however, remains unlikely. The goal for Milton’s return is 2020, according to Murschel.

“That’s what I’m hoping for, but if that’s not in my best-case scenario, if I don’t feel like I’m ready to come back at that point, then I won’t,” Milton said. “I’ll take as much time as I need because I want to play at a certain level where I was at or if not better. I feel like I would be doing myself a disservice if I came back and wasn’t completely ready to play. I don’t think that’s smart.”

More on Milton’s recovery, including the role his faith has played in it, can be found in Murschel’s article here.