2026 Comeback Player of the Year Award Mid-Season Watch List Issued
NEW YORK, NY – College Sports Communicators in association with The Associated Press (AP) and Fiesta Sports Foundation, today released a “Mid-Season Watch List” of 38 college football student-athletes currently under consideration for the 2026 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 at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
College athletic communications professionals working with football programs are encouraged to nominate deserving candidates at www.Comeback-Player.com.
Some of the top performers on the field this season include: Sam Leavitt – QB, LSU (Passing: 180 – 256 – 2173 yds – 17 TD/Rushing: 72 -324 – 8 TD); Jahiem White – RB, North Texas (Rushing: 142 – 1054 – 7.4 – 13 TD/Receiving: 29 – 277 – 2 TD); Re’Shaun Sanford II – RB, Houston (Rushing: 87 – 447 – 5.1 – 2 TD/Receiving: 11-138) Tobi Osunsanmi DL, Indiana (34 tackles – 15.5 TFL – 10 Sacks); Tony Rojas – LB, Penn State (58 tackles – 10.5 TFL – 5 Sacks – 2 Int); Chris Thompson Jr – LB, Tulsa (81 tackles; 3.5 TFL).
Here’s a look at the 2026 Comeback Player of the Year Mid-Season Watch List.
| PLAYER | SCHOOL | CONFERENCE | POSITION |
| Jahiem White | North Texas | AAC | RB |
| Dickson Agu | Tulane | AAC | LB |
| Chris Thompson Jr. | Tulsa | AAC | LB |
| Isaiah Crosby | California | ACC | DB |
| Bryant Wesco Jr. | Clemson | ACC | WR |
| Nick Morris Jr. | Duke | ACC | LB |
| Justice Haynes | Georgia Tech | ACC | RB |
| Censere Lee | Pittsburgh | ACC | WR |
| Steve Angeli | Syracuse | ACC | QB |
| Billy Edwards Jr. | UNC | ACC | QB |
| Monroe Mills | Virginia | ACC | OL |
| Jake Renfro | Illinois | BIG10 | OL |
| Xavier Scott | Illinois | BIG10 | DB |
| Tobi Osunsanmi | Indiana | BIG10 | DL |
| Rod Moore | Michigan | BIG10 | DB |
| John Henry Daley | Michigan | BIG10 | DE |
| Evan Stewart | Oregon | BIG10 | WR |
| Tony Rojas | Penn State | BIG10 | LB |
| Moses Walker | Rutgers | BIG10 | LB |
| Malik Hartford | UCLA | BIG10 | DB |
| Waymond Jordan | USC | BIG10 | RB |
| Re’Shaun Sanford II | Houston | BIG 12 | RB |
| Malcolm Hartzog | Arizona | BIG12 | DB |
| Will Hammond | Texas Tech | BIG12 | QB |
| Ashton Craig | Notre Dame | Independent | OL |
| Jaden Greathouse | Notre Dame | Independent | WR |
| Dorian Pringle | Bowling Green | MAC | LB |
| T.Y. Harding | UMass | MAC | WR |
| Pearce Spurlin III | Colorado State | PAC12 | TE |
| Chas Nimrod | Auburn | SEC | WR |
| LJ McCray | Florida | SEC | DL |
| CJ Baxter | Kentucky | SEC | RB |
| Sam Leavitt | LSU | SEC | QB |
| Max Johnson | Georgia Southern | Sun Belt | QB |
| Blake Baker | LA Tech | Sun Belt | QB |
| Kolbe Fields | LA Tech | Sun Belt | LB |
| Koa Naotala | Old Dominion | Sun Belt | LB |
| Goose Crowder | Troy | Sun Belt | QB |
Previous winners of the Comeback Player of the Year Award include: 2025 – Christian Bodnar (Liberty University); Byrum Brown (USF); Bryce Steele (Boston College); 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). For a complete list of past honorees, visit www.Comeback-Player.com.