Alabama DL Justin Eboigbe Named Semifinalist for AP/CSC Comeback Player of the Year

The redshirt senior is third on the team in tackles and sacks after missing the majority of last season with a spinal injury.

Alabama redshirt senior Justin Eboigbe was named a semifinalist for the Associated Press/College Sports Communicators Comeback Player of the Year Award, the AP and CSC announced in connection with the Fiesta Bowl on Wednesday morning.

Eboigbe has been a key starter on the Alabama defense this year after his 2022 season was cut short after four games with a spine injury. In 2023 he is tied for third on the team with 52 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and six sacks.

"Just looking at the year in review man, it’s been long road, a tough road," Eboigbe said earlier this month. "A lot of mental battles, a lot of physical battles on the road to recovery. Not being sure of my future, can’t tell, as far as not knowing, if I would be able to play the game of football again, not knowing how I’d be back on the field coming off the injury. And just seeing the fruits of my labor and the time spent. Everything that has happened has been something that I can be proud of, and I know I’ve still got more work to do. But I know that I keep putting in the work and I use that as motivation of knowing where I was last year."

Eboigbe is one of 15 semifinalists for the award, which has been given each year since 2018 to recognize the 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.

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