When Maryland's defense opposed Central Florida's McKenzie Milton in September 2016, the young quarterback threw for 260 yards and gave the Terps fits with his ability to make throws on the run. But he also lost three fumbles, and his last one -- with the game tied at 24 in its second overtime -- was especially costly.
Facing a third-and -goal from the Terps' 3-yard line, Milton lost control of the ball while being pressured by defensive lineman Kingsley Opara and linebacker Jalen Brooks. Opara chased after the ball while others thought Milton had thrown an incomplete pass. Maryland won the game two plays later.
"One of my best memories of my career so far," Opara said during the Terps' media availability Sept. 20. "I think it was hot and it slipped out of his hand. I just saw the ball. I just tried to listen to what Coach [DJ] Durkin says -- play through the whistle. And I didn't hear a whistle, so I just kept running to the ball and recovered it and made a play that put us in position to win the game."
