ORLANDO - UCF Football’s Cam Fancher and John Walker have been named to the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List, as announced by College Sports Communicators in association with the Associated Press and Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday afternoon.
The award, which began in 2018, recognizes college football student-athletes who have overcome injury, illness, or other life challenges. At the conclusion of each season, three student-athletes are selected as national winners by a panel of AP college football writers and sports information directors.
The preseason watch list highlights players with inspiring comeback potential entering the season. Fancher and Walker are among this group of selectees from across the country, spotlighted for their resilience and potential impact as we look toward the 2025 season.
Walker’s rookie season was nothing short of promising, as the former highly-touted recruit lived up to expectations before injury halted his momentum before the start of his sophomore campaign. Appearing in all 13 games for the Black and Gold in 2023, Walker quickly made his presence felt on the defensive front. He totaled 24 tackles, five tackles for loss, and two quarterback hurries, consistently disrupting opposing offenses.
His standout performance came against Villanova, where he racked up five tackles and two TFLs, a showing that earned him a spot on the Pro Football Focus College Football Team of the Week. Walker’s impact didn’t go unnoticed; He was named to the On3 Midseason and Final Defensive True Freshman All-American Teams, and received Big 12 Honorable Mention for Defensive Freshman of the Year.
Having never missed a single game across the entirety of his football career before 2024, Walker is vying for an opportunity to hit the field again and will undoubtedly be one to watch during the 2025 season.