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Jonathan Duhart of Old Dominion University; Donte' Harrell of Widener University; and Antonio Wimbush of Carson-Newman University Named Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Nominees
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ROCHESTER, Minn. — The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl organization have selected three college football student-athletes—
Jonathan Duhart of Old Dominion University,
Donte’ Harrell of Widener University and
Antonio Wimbush of Carson-Newman University
—as
Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award Nominees.
Ten times during the 2018 college football season, three inspiring student-athletes from all levels of college football who have overcome injury, illness or other challenges will be recognized as
Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Nominees. At the end of the season, the 30 nominees will be eligible for the
Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award. Duhart, Harrell and Wimbush join previous nominees
Caleb Farley (Virginia Tech),
Cody Thompson (University of Toledo),
Nate Ricci (University of Minnesota–Duluth),
Antwan Dixon (Kent State University),
Tanner Mangum (Brigham Young University) and
Marquez Stevenson (University of Houston).
CoSIDA members can nominate deserving student-athletes at
Comeback-Player.com. Here’s a look at this week’s three nominees.
Jonathan Duhart, a redshirt senior wide receiver at Old Dominion University, broke his foot in the second game of the 2017 season versus the University of Massachusetts, which caused the senior co-captain to miss the remainder of the year. He rehabbed during the off-season and was a full participant in spring practice. In six games this year, Duhart has recorded 42 receptions for 706 yards and six touchdowns, including five consecutive 100-yard receiving games. In the Monarchs 49-35 upset of Virginia Tech, the Midlothian, Va., native caught nine passes for 142 yards and three scores.
Donte' Harrell, a senior running back at Widener University, suffered a season-ending knee injury during the homecoming game in 2016 versus Stevenson. While rehabbing, he sustained another injury that kept him out the entire 2017 season as well. The Downington, Pa., native returned to the field for the first time since Oct. 15, 2016, and led Widener with 93 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns in the season-opening contest against Rowan. Through six games this season, Harrell leads the team, and is second in the MAC in rushing with 74 carries for 478 yards and six touchdowns. He’s also added nine receptions for 71 yards and two scores.
Antonio Wimbush, a senior running back at Carson-Newman University, tore his ACL in the Eagles second game of the 2017 season versus St. Augustine. The Kingsland, Ga., native shocked his doctors and trainers with a grueling and aggressive physical therapy regimen. The hard work paid off, when Wimbush returned to the field for the Eagles 2018 opener, carrying 12 times for 96 yards in a loss to West Florida. A week later, Wimbush established a career high with 184 yards on just 21 carries and three scores in a 33-29 win at Virginia Union. In this week’s 52-24 win over Limestone, he tallied 155 yards on just eight carries, including a 72-yard touchdown run. Through six games, he leads the South Atlantic Conference in rushing and is 11th in the country with 645 yards. He’s also rushed for four touchdowns and caught two passes for 38 yards and a touchdown.
All nominees are now eligible for the
Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award, presented at the end of the season. Mayo Clinic, the premier sponsor, will donate $5,000 to the general scholarship funds for the three winners and $2,500 in the name of six other worthy finalists. In addition, the three honorees will be recognized during a special ceremony during the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. Honorees and winners are selected by a panel of writers, editors and sports information directors from CoSIDA, AP and
Touchdown Illustrated, and representatives of the Fiesta Bowl.
Chad Pennington, the only player twice named professional football’s comeback player of the year award winner (2006, 2008), will serve as the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award ambassador. Pennington played his college football at Marshall University and was selected in the first-round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.
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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit medical practice and medical research group based in Rochester, Minnesota. It was recently named the #1 hospital in the U.S. in the
U.S. News & World Report rankings of top hospitals. It employs more than 4,500 physicians and scientists and 57,100 allied health staff. Learn more at
mayoclinic.org.
About CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America)
CoSIDA was founded in 1957 and is a 3,000+ member national organization comprised of the sports public relations, media relations and communications/information professionals throughout all levels of collegiate athletics in the United States and Canada. The organization is the second oldest management association in intercollegiate athletics. To learn more, visit
cosida.com.
About Associated Press
The Associated Press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world's population sees news from AP. On the web:
www.ap.org.
About the Fiesta Bowl Organization
The Fiesta Bowl is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans. As a nonprofit organization, it believes in the importance of community outreach and service. Through charitable giving, the organization strives to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that contribute to the success of communities through youth, sports and education. Since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl has worked to increase its footprint across the state and work to benefit Arizonans year-round, during and outside of bowl season. In the month of December, the organization manages the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, Cheez-It Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl Parade.
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Media Contacts
Doug Drotman (
doug@drotmanpr.com or 631-462-1198)
Doug Vance (
dougvance@cosida.com or 785-691-7708)