Three Lobos Named to Comeback Player of the Year Watch List

NEW YORK, NY – Tavian Combs, Trace Bruckler and Ryan Davis were all named to the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List.  The College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization, today released the Watch List of 100 college football student-athletes from 67 different schools currently under consideration.

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.

Combs and Bruckler were starters in 2022 until injuries sidelined both of their seasons, both earning reshirts.  Combs, who was a starter in both 2020 and 2021, ranks among the top 25 national among active players in tackles per game.  Combs is expected to start once again at the Lobo back spot, anchoring UNM’s defense.

Bruckler was injured early in the season and ended up taking a redshirt season.  He was a breakout starter at tight end as a true freshman in 2021 and he is expected to play a big role in UNM’s new offense under offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent.  Davis, who played for Vincent at UAB, didn’t play for UNM last year, but is coming back from several injuries that limited his participation over the last few years.  When healthy, Davis has been extrememly productive in his career with 22 career receptions for 280 yards.

Here’s a look at the initial Comeback Player of the Year Watch List.

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.

The second oldest management association in intercollegiate athletics, College Sports Communicators was founded in 1957 and rebranded in August 2022. The organization, now in its 67th year as an organization, was previously known as College Sports Information Directors of America, or CoSIDA. Today, College Sports Communicators is a vibrant 4,200-plus member international association, composed of the athletic communications, media relations, digital and creative professionals throughout all levels of intercollegiate athletics in the United States and Canada. CSC’s signature program is the Academic All-America® program, honoring thousands of outstanding scholar-athletes annually. To learn more, visit collegesportscommunicators.com

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Media Contact:  Doug Drotman (doug@drotman-pr.com or 631-462-1198)