Wisniewski placed on Comeback POY watch list
August 19, 2025 | Football
NEW YORK – College Sports Communicators, in association with The Associated Press (AP) and Fiesta Sports Foundation, named Texas Tech senior defensive back Cole Wisniewski to its 2025 Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list on Tuesday. Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances.
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At the conclusion of the season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes will be honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. The 2025 preseason watch list encompasses 75 college football student-athletes from 51 different schools for the 2025 award.Â
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Wisniewski enjoyed a breakout season in 2023 at North Dakota State, being tabbed a consensus first-team FCS All-American after leading all Division I players with eight interceptions, while also leading NDSU with 92 tackles and five pass breakups before his 2024 senior season was taken away before it even started.
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He suffered a foot injury in his final game of the 2023 season, the Bisons' FCS Semifinal Game at Montana, that required surgery to repair and ultimately caused Wisniewski to miss the entire 2024 season. After the season, Wisniewski entered the transfer portal and shortly thereafter committed to the Red Raiders thanks to an available redshirt. Wisniewski, who brings 47 games of experience, with 19 starts over four seasons (2020-23), is projected to be the Red Raiders' starting free safety heading into 2025.Â
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Previous Comeback Player of the Year Winners
Previous winners of the Comeback Player of the Year Award include: 2024: Ike Larsen (Utah); Raheim Sanders (South Carolina); Tyler Shough (Louisville); 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); For a complete list of past honorees, visit www.Comeback-Player.com.
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At the conclusion of the season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes will be honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. The 2025 preseason watch list encompasses 75 college football student-athletes from 51 different schools for the 2025 award.Â
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Wisniewski enjoyed a breakout season in 2023 at North Dakota State, being tabbed a consensus first-team FCS All-American after leading all Division I players with eight interceptions, while also leading NDSU with 92 tackles and five pass breakups before his 2024 senior season was taken away before it even started.
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He suffered a foot injury in his final game of the 2023 season, the Bisons' FCS Semifinal Game at Montana, that required surgery to repair and ultimately caused Wisniewski to miss the entire 2024 season. After the season, Wisniewski entered the transfer portal and shortly thereafter committed to the Red Raiders thanks to an available redshirt. Wisniewski, who brings 47 games of experience, with 19 starts over four seasons (2020-23), is projected to be the Red Raiders' starting free safety heading into 2025.Â
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Previous Comeback Player of the Year Winners
Previous winners of the Comeback Player of the Year Award include: 2024: Ike Larsen (Utah); Raheim Sanders (South Carolina); Tyler Shough (Louisville); 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); For a complete list of past honorees, visit www.Comeback-Player.com.
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Players Mentioned
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