Samuel Nominated for Comeback Player of the Year Award

University of South Carolina senior Deebo Samuel has been nominated for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award, announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in association with the Associated Press and the Fiesta Bowl. The 30 nominees come from a pool of inspiring student-athletes from all levels of college football who have overcome injury, illness or other challenges.
 
Samuel, a senior wide receiver for the University of South Carolina broke his leg in the third game of the 2017 season and was forced the miss the rest of the year. Despite playing in just three games, he still tied for the team lead with six touchdowns while averaging 158 yards of total offense per game. The Inman, S.C. native is once again a triple threat for the Gamecocks receiving, returning and running the football. He’s played in all nine games and leads the team with 43 receptions and is second with 527 yards receiving and five touchdowns. He has also returned 20 kicks for 505 yards including a 90-yard touchdown versus Ole Miss. He also threw a 13-yard touchdown pass and has seven carries for 24 yards rushing. 
 
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 at the end of the season. 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.