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2 UCF players facing suspensions from failed drug tests
Two UCF players will miss a significant portion of the 2017 season.
The program confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel Tuesday that wide receiver Tristan Payton and cornerback Nevelle Clark tested positive for marijuana when subjected to random NCAA drug testing during the Knights’ trip to the Cure Bowl. As a result, the two will miss “a minimum of six games,” the Sentinel is reporting. A positive test yields a suspension for half of the student-athlete’s season.
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“We hold our athletes to the highest standard and they’re going to have consequences if they don’t live up to that standard,” UCF head coach Scott Frost said. “We’re going to do everything we can for those two young men and hopefully they learn the lesson.”
Payton, who will be a junior in 2017, combined for 33 catches for 396 yards and two touchdowns over his first two seasons. He has also been one of the team’s kickoff returners, averaging 22.6 yards per attempt. In 2016, he threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Tre’Quan Smith on a trick play.
Clarke played in 11 games in 2016 as a redshirt freshman, totaling 15 tackles. Per the Sentinel, he was expected to move into a starting cornerback role after the graduation of starting corners Shaquill Griffin and D.J. Killings.
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Despite the impending suspensions, the two will participate in spring practice, Frost told the Sentinel.
After going winless in 2015, the Knights took a big stride in its first season under Frost, finishing the regular season 6-6 before dropping the Cure Bowl 31-13 to Arkansas State.
For more UCF news, visit UCFSports.com.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
