Dripping Springs linebacker Luca Picucci recovers after serious accident in Cancun

All-Central Texas linebacker Luca Picucci is recovering from an undisclosed accident he suffered during a recent vacation trip to Cancun. He was on his graduation trip with family and friends when he had to undergo emergency surgery to repair his L1 vertebra.

After surgery, he was brought back to Austin and is currently recovering at Dell Seton Hospital. He underwent another surgery on Monday.

Picucci suffered no neurological damage but has “a very long road to recovery” ahead of him, said April Requard, who set up a GoFundMe page for the Tigers football player. He is expected to be released from the hospital next week but will still need about six weeks of inpatient rehab followed by months of outpatient rehab.

“Luca is tough and a fighter, but the prognosis is good,” Dripping Springs football coach Galen Zimmerman said Thursday.

As of Thursday afternoon, 735 donors had raised more than $120,000 for the fund. The goal is $300,000.

Picucci was named District 26-6A Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 after contributing 99 tackles, six sacks and one interception.

This article originally appeared in the Austin American-Statesman: Dripping Springs football player Luca Picucci recovering from accident