2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award updated watch list issued
College Sports Information Directors of America
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NEW YORK, NY – College Sports Communicators in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization, today released an updated “Watch List” of 49 college football student-athletes from 42 different schools currently under consideration for the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes from all divisions of college football for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
College athletic communications professionals working with football programs are encouraged to nominate deserving candidates at www.Comeback-Player.com. Here’s a look at the October 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Watch List.
| CONFERENCE | PLAYER | SCHOOL | POSITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAC | Nikhai Hill-Green | Charlotte | LB |
| AAC | Rahjai Harris | East Carolina | RB |
| AAC | Tai Lavatai | Navy | QB |
| AAC | Anthony Watkins | Tulsa | RB |
| ACC | Christian Mahogany | Boston College | OL |
| ACC | Tyler Van Dyke | Miami | QB |
| ACC | Savion Jackson | NC State | DE |
| ACC | Stefon Thompson | Syracuse | LB |
| ACC | Malachi Fields | Virginia | WR |
| ACC | Mike Hollins | Virginia | RB |
| BIG TEN | Cam Camper | Indiana | WR |
| BIG TEN | Erick All | Iowa | TE |
| BIG TEN | Blake Corum | Michigan | RB |
| BIG TEN | Thomas Fidone II | Nebraska | TE |
| BIG TEN | Garrett Miller | Purdue | TE |
| BIG TEN | Mohamed Toure | Rutgers | DL |
| Big 12 | Malik Robinson | Houston | LB |
| Big 12 | Daniel Hishaw Jr. | Kansas | RB |
| Big 12 | Alan Bowman | Oklahoma State | QB |
| Big 12 | Jaden Bray | Oklahoma State | WR |
| Big 12 | Jalen Catalon | Texas | DB |
| Big 12 | Cole Spencer | Texas Tech | OL |
| Big 12 | CJ Donaldson Jr. | West Virginia | RB |
| Independent | Tyrell Robinson | Army | RB |
| MAC | Davon Ferguson | Bowling Green | CB |
| MAC | Terion Stewart | Bowling Green | RB |
| MAC | Marion Lukes | Central Michigan | RB |
| MAC | Myles Bailey | Central Michigan | RB |
| MAC | O'Shaan Allison | Ohio University | RB |
| Mountain West | Markel Reed | Boise State | CB |
| Mountain West | Tavian Combs | New Mexico | S/LB |
| Mountain West | Sabastian Harsh | Wyoming | DE |
| Pac 12 | Brett Johnson | Cal-Berkeley | DL |
| Pac 12 | Romello Height | USC | RE |
| Pac 12 | Edefuan Ulofoshio | Washington | LB |
| SEC | Justin Eboigbe | Alabama | DL |
| SEC | Devin Leary | Kentucky | QB |
| SEC | Ainias Smith | Texas A&M | WR |
| SEC | Max Johnson | Texas A&M | QB |
| Sun Belt | Corey Rucker | Arkansas State | WR |
| Sun Belt | Braydon Bennett | Coastal Carolina | RB |
| Sun Belt | Rasheen Ali | Marshall | RB |
| Sun Belt | Stephen Dix Jr. | Marshall | LB |
| CAA | Matthew Downing | Elon | QB |
| MVC | DJ Williams | Murray State | QB |
| MVC | Myles Harden | South Dakota | CB |
| Patriot League | Jacob Dobbs | Holy Cross | LB |
| UAC | Keith Davis | Utah Tech | WR |
| UAC | Ronnie Walker Jr. | Utah Tech | RB |
Previous winners of the Comeback Player of the Year Award include: 2022 - Mohamed Ibrahim (Minnesota); Laiatu Latu (UCLA); Michael Penix Jr. (Washington); 2021 – Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan); McKenzie Milton (Florida State); J.J. Weaver (Kentucky); 2020 – Jarek Broussard (Colorado); Kenneth Horsey (Kentucky); Silas Kelly (Coastal Carolina); 2019 – Jake Luton (Oregon State); Drew Wilson (Georgia Southern); Octavion Wilson (Salisbury); 2018 - Antwan Dixon (Kent State), Seth Simmer (Dartmouth); Antonio Wimbush (Carson-Newman). For a complete list of past honorees, visit www.Comeback-Player.com.
Media Contact: Doug Drotman (doug@drotman-pr.com or 631-462-1198)
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Calendar
Important Dates
06/23/26 / 11:59 P.M. M/W At-Large Academic All-America National Ballot Voting Deadline (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)
06/30/26 / 11:59 P.M. M/W Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America National Ballot Voting Deadline (NCAA, NAIA)
07/07/26 / 12:00 P.M. W At-Large Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)
07/08/26 / 12:00 P.M. M At-Large Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)
07/14/26 / 12:00 P.M. M Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA)
06/07/26 / All Day 2026 CSC Unite Convention in Las Vegas
06/08/26 / All Day 2026 CSC Unite Convention in Las Vegas
06/09/26 / All Day 2026 CSC Unite Convention in Las Vegas
06/09/26 / 11:59 P.M. Baseball Academic All-America National Ballot Voting Deadline (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)
06/10/26 / All Day 2026 CSC Unite Convention in Las Vegas
06/16/26 / 12:00 P.M. Softball Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA)
06/16/26 / 12:00 P.M. M/W At-Large Academic All-District Released; National Voting Begins (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)
06/16/26 / 11:59 P.M. M/W Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America Nomination Deadline (NCAA, NAIA)
06/23/26 / 12:00 P.M. M/W Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-District Released; National Voting Begins (NCAA, NAIA)
06/23/26 / 12:00 P.M. Baseball Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA)
06/23/26 / 11:59 P.M. M/W At-Large Academic All-America National Ballot Voting Deadline (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)
06/30/26 / 11:59 P.M. M/W Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America National Ballot Voting Deadline (NCAA, NAIA)
07/07/26 / 12:00 P.M. W At-Large Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)
07/08/26 / 12:00 P.M. M At-Large Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA, College Division)
07/14/26 / 12:00 P.M. M Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America Announced (NCAA, NAIA)
06/07/26 / All Day 2026 CSC Unite Convention in Las Vegas
06/08/26 / All Day 2026 CSC Unite Convention in Las Vegas
06/09/26 / All Day 2026 CSC Unite Convention in Las Vegas
06/09/26 / 11:59 P.M. Baseball Academic All-America National Ballot Voting Deadline (NCAA, NAIA)
06/10/26 / All Day 2026 CSC Unite Convention in Las Vegas
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