Two Knights have made their mark on ESPN's elite list of 2000s quarterbacks, highlighting UCF's impressive quarterback legacy. Dillon Gabriel, now with the Cleveland Browns, and McKenzie Milton, UCF's quarterback coach, both earned spots on the list curated by ESPN's Bill Connelly.
Gabriel snagged the 25th spot, thanks to his eye-popping stats that rival video game numbers. He ranks second in all-time passing yards, right behind Case Keenum, and shares the top spot for most passing touchdowns.
Gabriel leveraged the 2020 bonus eligibility year to climb the ranks, amassing over 7,000 yards at UCF and nearly 7,000 at OU. His senior year saw him lead Oregon to an undefeated regular season and secure the No. 1 seed in the first 12-team College Football Playoff.
His career numbers are staggering: 18,722 passing yards with a 65% completion rate, 155 touchdowns, and just 32 interceptions. Gabriel's dual-threat capabilities shone through as well, with 1,209 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns.
Milton, ranked 90th, is celebrated for his remarkable 2017 season when he led UCF to an unbeaten record. Unfortunately, a severe leg injury in 2018 curtailed his promising career.
Before the injury, Milton was on track for career totals in the 12,000-yard, 100-TD range. It took him three years to return to the field as a backup at FSU.
Milton's stats include 9,548 passing yards with a 61% completion rate, 75 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions. Like Gabriel, he also demonstrated dual-threat potential, rushing for 1,066 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Both quarterbacks have left an indelible mark on UCF, proudly representing the school's colors. Gabriel was drafted 94th overall by the Browns, where he started six of the 10 games he played, throwing for 937 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Milton transitioned smoothly into coaching, starting as an offensive analyst for Tennessee in 2023, and later reuniting with coach Scott Frost as UCF's quarterback coach.
The UCF Knights now boast two top 100 college quarterbacks of the 2000s, with Gabriel carving out his NFL path and Milton imparting his wisdom to the next generation of UCF quarterbacks.