UCF enters preseason camp mostly healthy, gets key defensive players back
UCF opened preseason football camp this week in relatively good health, a welcome development for a program eager to rebound under returning head coach Scott Frost.
Several projected starters who were unavailable for contact during spring practices are now back in action, including defensive end Malachi Lawrence, defensive tackle John Walker and defensive back Braeden Marshall. All three are not only expected to start this fall, but are also regarded as team leaders.
Walker, a former four-star prospect, missed the entire 2024 season due to injury, while Lawrence and Marshall were just sidelined during spring.
Frost said the return of those players, among others, provides a noticeable boost.
“I’m actually anxious to see it because it wasn’t just some players (that missed spring), it was some of our best players,” Frost said. “You talk about Malachi (Lawrence) and John Walker and Braeden Marshall and a few other guys that are going to be key components of our team that I haven’t even really seen them operate yet. So I was pleased with our team coming off spring, but adding guys like that and a few others at healthy and going into camp should be a big boost for us.”
Two other defenders who were unavailable in spring – cornerback Antioine Jackson and linebacker Phil Picciotti – are also full-go entering camp. Jackson appeared in 10 games last season and will be in the mix to start.
“We’re excited to have (Jackson) for fall camp,” secondary coach Brandon Harris said. “He has been hungry. We’ve watched him battle back. We’ve watched him put himself in position physically and mentally to have a really good camp.
“All of us, even his teammates, everybody’s excited for him to feel like himself again. Feel healthy, hit the field, and really be able to contribute.”
Picciotti is a transfer from Oklahoma hoping to restart his career after missing the past two seasons due to injury.
“Yeah, he’s had a good summer, ” linebackers coach Mark D’Onofrio said of Picciotti. “He got over the hump a little bit from where he was at in the spring. He’s done everything in the summer, and he’ll be available (for practice).”
Only a few players are not available to begin camp. Wide receiver DayDay Farmer and offensive tackle Justin Royes both suffered season-ending injuries during spring. Farmer, a sophomore, had been one of the standouts of spring practice before going down with a lower-leg injury during a non-contact drill.
Freshman tight end Caden Piening will miss the first week or so of camp due to a hamstring issue, but is expected to return soon.
“We have one tight end, Caden Piening, that had a little bit of a hamstring issue,” Frost said. “He’s done a great job so far, so he’ll probably miss a week or so. I think everybody else is up and ready to go.”
