Related Content
• Comeback-Player.com: Nominate football student-athletes
• Follow on Twitter @ComebackPlayrFB; Use the hashtag #MayoClinicCPOY
• Follow on Instagram @Comeback_Player_cfb
Shamari Brooks of Tulsa; Brandon Council of Auburn; and Demitri Washington of Boise State Named 2021 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award Nominees
NEW YORK, N.Y. — The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization, has selected three college football student-athletes —
Shamari Books, a senior running back for the University of Tulsa;
Brandon Council a graduate-transfer from Auburn University; and
Demitri Washington, a junior edge rusher from Boise State University — as nominees for the
2021 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Ten times during the 2021 college football season, three inspiring student-athletes from all levels of college football who have overcome injury, illness, or other challenges, are recognized as
Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Nominees by a panel of writers, editors, and sports information directors from CoSIDA, AP and
Touchdown Illustrated. In December, three of the 30 nominees will be chosen as winners of the
Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award and recognized at a special ceremony during the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2022, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Other nominees so far this season are
Terrel Bernard (LB, Baylor);
Yohance Burnett (LB, Tulsa);
Noah Cain (RB, Penn State);
Sean Chambers (QB, Wyoming);
Jack Coan (QB, Notre Dame);
Tobias Harris (DB, West Texas A&M);
Ryan Hubley (WR, Johns Hopkins);
Aidan Hutchinson (DE, Michigan);
Brian Kearns, Jr. (RB, Stonehill College);
Alex Keith (DL, Washington & Jefferson College);
Cole Maxwell (DL, Baylor);
Ricky Miezan (LB, Stanford);
McKenzie Milton (QB, Florida State);
John Mitchell (TE, Florida Atlantic);
Jeremiah Moon (LB, Florida);
Patrick Paul (OL, Houston);
Cameron Rising (QB, Utah);
Reggie Roberson, Jr (WR, SMU);
Justyn Ross (WR, Clemson);
Avery Samuels (OL, Stetson);
Corey Sutton (WR, Appalachian State);
Skylar Thompson (QB, Kansas State); and
J.J. Weaver (LB, Kentucky).
Here’s a look at the inspiring stories of this week’s three honorees:
Shamari Brooks, a senior running back for the University of Tulsa was ready for breakthrough 2020 season following a junior campaign with 1,248 yards rushing and six touchdowns, bringing his career total to 2,902 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns in his first 33 games. Just one week before the start of the 2020 season, the Tulsa, Oklahoma native suffered a torn ACL and meniscus that would require surgery and end his season before it began. The 5-foot-8, 194-pound halfback started the 2021 season with 10 carries in each of the first three games for a combined 137 yards. He then surpassed the 100-yard mark in three of the next four games, rushing for 155 yards and a score in a win over Arkansas State; 126 yards and two touchdowns in a win against Memphis; and 145 yards and a score in a win at South Florida. This week he ran for 132 yards and a touchdown versus No. 6 ranked Cincinnati to bring his season total to 144 carries for 720 yards and five touchdowns. He’s also caught seven passes for 61 yards. He joins fellow Golden Hurricane, Yohance Burnett as one of just two pairs of teammates nominated for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Brandon Council, an offensive lineman for Auburn University came to Auburn as a graduate-transfer from Akron last year and immediately earned a starting spot for the Tigers. The 6-foot-5, 335-poud lineman made four starts at right guard and a start at left guard before tearing the ACL of his left knee versus Ole Miss on Oct. 24, 2020. It marked the second serious injury of his career, having previously missed the 2018 season at Akron with knee surgery. As the Tar Heel, NC native was rehabbing his knee, he suffered a torn labrum that kept him out of spring practice. But, by the time camp opened, Council was a full-time participant and earned back his starting spot for the season-opener, a 60-10 win versus his former school, Akron. He started the first eight games for the 6-3 Tigers who rank fifth in the SEC in points scored and rushing yards per game.
Demitri Washington, a junior edge rusher for Boise State University was coming off an impressive freshman season in which he started all 14 games, but, in just the second game of the 2020 season versus Air Force, the 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive lineman suffered a season-ending knee injury. Following surgery and off-season rehabilitation, the native of Solana Beach, CA returned for the 2021 season-opener a recorded four solo tackles versus the University of Central Florida. He’s continued his strong play, starting all nine games for the Broncos and recording 31 tackles, including his first career sack this week versus Fresno State and a career high seven tackles versus Colorado State on Oct. 30.
Past winners of the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award have included:
2018 – Antwan Dixon (Kent State), Seth Simmer (Dartmouth), Antonio Wimbush (Carson-Newman);
2019 – Jake Luton (Oregon State), Drew Wilson (Georgia Southern), Octavion Wilson (Salisbury University);
2020 – Jarek Broussard (Colorado), Kenneth Horsey (Kentucky) and Silas Kelly (Coastal Carolina). For a complete list of past honorees and additional details on their remarkable comeback stories, visit
www.Comeback-Player.com; follow via Twitter at
@ComebackPlayrFB via the hashtag #MayoClinicCPOY; and on Instagram at
@Comeback_Player_CFB. Mayo Clinic does not have any role in selecting the nominees or winners of the award.
About Mayo Clinic: Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. For information on COVID-19, including Mayo Clinic's Coronavirus Map tracking tool, which has 14-day forecasting on COVID-19 trends, visit the Mayo Clinic COVID-19 Resource Center
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.
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: Since 1971, 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 during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education. On the web: FiestaBowl.org
Media Contacts
Doug Drotman (doug@drotman-pr.com or 631-462-1198)
Doug Vance (dougvance@cosida.com or 785-691-7708)