College Sports Communicators in association with The Associated Press (AP) and Fiesta Sports Foundation, today released the 15 semi-finalists for college football’s 2025 Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes 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. The winners will be announced on December 17 and recognized at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Here’s a look at the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year Semi-Finalists
| PLAYER | SCHOOL | CONFERENCE | POSITION |
| Byrum Brown | USF | American | QB |
| Bryce Steele | Boston College | ACC | LB |
| Carson Beck | Miami | ACC | QB |
| Mohamed Toure | Miami | ACC | LB |
| Caden Fordham | NC State | ACC | LB |
| Armorion Smith | Michigan State | Big Ten | DB |
| Conner Weigman | Houston | Big12 | QB |
| Corey Platt Jr | Houston | Big12 | LB |
| Caleb Bacon | Iowa State | Big12 | LB |
| Cole Wisniewski | Texas Tech | Big12 | S |
| Treydan Stukes | Arizona | Big12 | CB |
| Christian Bodnar | Liberty | Conference USA | CB |
| Boubacar Traore | Notre Dame | Independent | DL |
| Deontae Lawson | Alabama | SEC | LB |
| Harold Perkins Jr | LSU | SEC | LB |
Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes 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. Previous winners of the Comeback Player of the Year Award include: 2024 – Ike Larsen (Utah State); Raheim Sanders (South Carolina); Tyler Shough (Louisville); 2023 – Blake Corum (Michigan); Jacob Dobbs (Holy Cross); Mike Hollins (Virginia); 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).