A vital UCF staffer departs for Missouri, leaving behind a legacy of player support and elite recruiting. His emotional farewell highlights a transformative journey.
Former UCF Senior Director of Player Development, Pro Liaison & Internal Operations Deshon Lawrence Jr. announced Sunday he would be leaving the program, ending his tenure with the program.
The following day, Lawrence joined Missouri's staff as director of player and recruiting engagement.
He expressed his gratitude for UCF, calling his time in Orlando a "blessing" in his thoughtful social media post.
"I showed up here with a heavy heart… grieving, searching, and honestly just trying to keep going after losing my mom. Through it all, this place became more than football—it became family, it became healing. I’ll never forget that. Never," Lawrence wrote via X.
At UCF, Lawrence served as the "primary liaison between football staff, academic services, university housing, and compliance for student-athletes, while also guiding football student-athletes through financial processes and academic participation," according to UCF athletics.
Lawrence was a big-time recruiter of talent, focusing mostly on the state of Georgia.
He joined the program under former head coach and new appointee to the College Football Playoff Committee Gus Malzahn, carrying over into the Scott Frost era.
Lawrence thanked Malzahn for giving him a "life-changing" opportunity in his social post.
"When I got the call from Coach Malzahn to come be a part of such a special place, it came during one of the hardest times in my life. I was less than a year removed from losing my mom, navigating the toughest year I’ve ever faced. I was lost and had little motivation to do much of anything but that call on December 2, 2022 turned out to be life-changing. For that, I will forever be thankful. Thank you, Coach, and thank you, Ms. Kristi."
Lawrence also expressed gratitude for all of the players, coaches and additional staff he got to work alongside, writing "I am forever grateful for the many people I crossed paths with during my time here. To the players thank you for trusting me and allowing me to be a part of your journey. It was an honor to serve you and to do everything possible to enhance your experience at UCF... To all the coaches and relationships I built along the way, I hope I left a lasting and positive impression. Coach Frost and Sims, thank you for keeping me through the transition. I’ll forever appreciate y’all."
Lawrence will bring a recruiting pedigree and genuine appreciation for his work along with him to Missouri, but he will certainly be missed in Orlando.
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