Indiana QB Dexter Williams II, WR Cam Camper Named to Comeback Player of the Year Watch List

Indiana football quarterback Dexter Williams II and wide receiver Cam Camper have been named to the 2023 College Football Comeback Player of the Year preseason watch list. Both players suffered serious knee injuries toward the end of the 2022 season.

Indiana quarterback Dexter Williams II and wide receiver Cam Camper have been named to the 2023 College Football Comeback Player of the Year preseason watch list. 

The award recognizes college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness or other circumstances, according to the official College Football Comeback Player of the Year website.

Recognizing CFB student-athletes for overcoming injury or more – @Camp1k_ & @dex5will are on the @ComebackPlayrFB Watch List. pic.twitter.com/ySksIFYcjq

— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) August 22, 2023

Williams II started the final two games of the season for Indiana in 2022, including the team's 39-31 double overtime win over Michigan State. Then a redshirt freshman, he started against Purdue as well, but unfortunately suffered a non-contact injury late in the first quarter with the Hoosiers leading 7-3. 

It was later revealed to be a torn ACL in Williams II's right knee. Prior to the Purdue game, Williams II was expected to be the day one starter in Bloomington for the 2023 season. 

Coach Tom Allen gave an update on Williams II's injury on Aug. 9, and said that the quarterback was "further along" in his recovery than the team had originally expected him to be. 

"[Dexter Williams II] just had his final check-up prior to fall camp, and it came back very positive," Allen said. "And so from that meeting that he had with his doctors, we felt like we could accelerate things for fall camp, and so he's been out there taking reps."

As for Camper, he burst onto the scene for Indiana in 2022 as the team's most dangerous pass catching threat. He set a new program record for receiving yards in a debut performance, hauling in 11 receptions for 156 yards in a 23-20 win over Illinois in his first game as a Hoosier. In just seven games last season, Camper tallied 46 receptions for 569 yards and two touchdowns. 

A look at Cam Camper’s TD catch in the final minute. #iufb pic.twitter.com/8SJt27FUTq

— Kevin Vera (@thekevinvera) September 17, 2022

Camper's 2022 season ended in Piscataway, as he suffered a torn ACL in Indiana's 24-17 loss to Rutgers. The standout wide receiver gave media an injury update back on Aug. 7, saying that he plans to be at a "full go" for the team's week one matchup with Ohio State. 

"That's the plan, to be full go at the start of the season," Camper said. "But right now, I'm going through practice as I would if I was not injured. I just think every day I'm taking good strides, and I'm just focusing on making sure my technique is good."

In 2022, one of the three winners of the College Football Comeback Player of the Year Award winners was former Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. 

Penix Jr. starred at IU from 2018-21, leading the Hoosiers to two of the best seasons in school history in 2019 and 2020. He suffered several injuries during his time in Bloomington, and transferred to Washington following the 2021 season. 

Once again playing under Kalen DeBoer — former Indiana offensive coordinator during the 2019 season and current head coach at Washington — Penix Jr. thrived. The dynamic lefty quarterback threw for 4,641 yards and 31 touchdowns while leading the Huskies to an 11-2 record and a No. 8 finish in the AP poll rankings. 

The College Football Comeback Player of the Year Award was first handed out in 2018, and has been given to three winners in each season since its conception. Only two Big Ten players have won the award — Minnesota's Mohamed Ibrahim in 2022, and Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson in 2021. 

If either of Williams II or Camper is selected as one of the winners at the end of the 2023 season, they would be the first Indiana football player achieve that feat. 

Related Stories on Indiana Football

• DEXTER WILLIAMS II INJURY UPDATE: Indiana coach Tom Allen spoke to media and gave an update on the young, dynamic quarterback recovering from his devastating knee injury from the season prior. CLICK HERE
• CAMPER, BEDFORD INJURY UPDATES: Indiana coach Tom Allen spoke to media prior to fall camp and gave updates on the recovery status of both offensive lineman Matthew Bedford and wide receiver Cam Camper. CLICK HERE