Ike Larsen, Raheim Sanders & Tyler Shough Named 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award Winners

College Sports Communicators, in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl, today named Ike Larsen (DB, Utah State), Raheim “Rocket” Sanders (RB, South Carolina) and Tyler Shough (QB, Louisville) as winners of college football’s 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Since 2018, the Comeback Player of the Year 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 Associated Press college football writers and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners.  They will be honored during an on-field ceremony at the 2024 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.

Here’s a look at the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award winners and their inspiring comeback stories.

Ike Larsen (DB, Utah State University)

Ike Larsen’s inspiring comeback has been three years in the making. This year, he courageously shared his story during National Suicide Prevention Day to help others struggling with mental health challenges.

A high school football star from Smithfield, UT, Ike seemed to be living the dream as his 2021 arrival at Utah State coincided with the team’s first-ever Mountain West Conference championship. However, while the Aggies celebrated, Ike’s life was unraveling. Both his parents were hospitalized with COVID—his father, Bret, recovered after several weeks, but his mother, Joanne, spent a month in a coma and nearly the entire football season in the hospital. Balancing football and hospital visits, coupled with limited playing time and a breakup with his long-time girlfriend, brought Ike to a dark place.

On December 12, 2021, Ike drove around town for hours with a gun by his side, overwhelmed by dark thoughts. Stepping out of the car, he pulled the gun out but, instead of pulling the trigger, dialed 911. First responders arrived and helped him calm down. And then, with the love of his parents, friends, coaches and teammates, Ike sought help through therapy, learned coping tools, and even found new ways to express himself, including through music.

Ike believes these coping strategies have also made him a better player. In 2022, he earned College Football News Honorable Mention Freshman All-American honors and was named second-team all-Mountain West, and, in 2023, he earned College Football Network Honorable Mention All-American honors and was a first-team all-MW selection. Despite a 4-8 record this season, Ike recorded 80 tackles. Over 37 career games, he has amassed 217 tackles, nine interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 26 passes defended, and a school-record five blocked kicks.

2024 STATISTICS: 55 solo tackles-25 assists-80 total tackles-1.5 TFL-1 INT-10 passes defended

Raheim “Rocket” Sanders (RB, University of South Carolina)

Raheim “Rocket” Sanders’ journey is a testament to perseverance, hard work, and determination. A breakout star at the University of Arkansas, Rocket burst onto the scene in 2022, finishing second in the SEC with 1,443 rushing yards and solidifying himself as one of the top young running back prospects in the nation. However, his 2023 season was derailed by injuries after just six games and 209 yards rushing —a knee issue followed by a severe shoulder injury that required surgery.

His shoulder injury was so significant that it necessitated the Latarjet procedure, a complex surgery involving a bone graft and muscle/tendon transfer to repair chronic and severe dislocations. Despite the daunting recovery process, Rocket refused to let his career be defined by setbacks. After transferring to South Carolina for the 2024 season, he approached his rehabilitation with unmatched determination. South Carolina’s athletic trainers praised his dedication, noting that he “worked his tail off and followed the rehab plan to a T.”

As the 2024 season progressed, Rocket’s performance improved steadily. Playing in all 12 games, he showcased his resilience and talent, rushing for over 100 yards and two touchdowns in three SEC matchups: 143 yards against LSU, 144 yards versus Texas A&M, and 126 yards against Vanderbilt. His 881 rushing yards and 183 attempts ranked third in the SEC, while his 11 rushing touchdowns were fifth best. A threat in the passing game as well, he also led SEC running backs with 316 receiving yards on 27 receptions.

2024 STATISTICS:  RUSHING: 183 att-881 yds-4.8 ave-11-TD/ RECEIVING: 27 rec-316 yds-11.7 ave-2 TD

Tyler Shough (QB, University of Louisville)

Tyler Shough’s inspiring comeback story reflects six years of resilience and determination. Beginning his college football journey at Oregon in 2018 and concluding at Louisville in 2024, Tyler overcame a series of setbacks to finish his career on a high note. This season, he led the Cardinals to an 8-4 record and a berth in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl against Washington.

Tyler’s path has been anything but easy. At Oregon, he showcased his potential as the Ducks’ primary quarterback in 2020, leading them to a Pac-12 Championship. Seeking new challenges, he transferred to Texas Tech, where injuries defined his next three seasons. Shoulder and collarbone injuries sidelined him after just four games in 2021 and seven contests in 2022, while a broken left fibula ended his 2023 season after just four games.

In 2024, Tyler arrived at Louisville, embracing a fresh start with remarkable mental and physical toughness. Starting all 12 games, he passed for over 300 yards in four contests, including back-to-back performances against conference foes Miami and Boston College. He added four touchdown passes in games against both Miami and Austin Peay.  He finished the season with 3,195 passing yards (third in the ACC), 23 touchdowns (fifth), and a 148.1 QBR (sixth).  Across 42 career games, Tyler completed 63% of his passes for 7,820 yards and 59 touchdowns.

2024 STATISTICS:  PASSING 244 att- 389 comp-3195 yds- 23 TD- 6 int- 62.7 com% – 148.1. QBR.

Previous winners of the Comeback Player of the Year Award include: 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.

For information about the award, visit Comeback-Player.com or follow on social media via Instagram at @Comeback_Player_CFB  and X at @ComebackPlayrFB.