Ventrell Miller and Jaydon Hill run out of the tunnel prior to the 52-17 win over Eastern Washington (Photo by: Jordan McKendrick / UAA Communications)
Ventrell Miller, Jaydon Hill Named to 2022 Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List
Wednesday, October 12, 2022 | Football
Hill was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ventrell Miller and Jaydon Hill were named to the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List, the College Sports Communicators in association with The Associated Press and Fiesta Bowl Organization announced today. Miller and Hill are two of 61 college football student-athletes under consideration for the award.
The award recognizes 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 writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes will be honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Last season, Miller played in two games before being sidelined with a season-ending injury. So far in his sixth season, the Lakeland, Florida native has tallied 40 tackles, along with five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in five games.
Hill earned a medical redshirt last year after suffering a season ending injury prior to the season. The redshirt sophomore cornerback was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday following his two-interception performance against Missouri, including a 49-yard pick-six in the second quarter, in just his second game back from injury.
The initial watch list only includes players from Division I schools. Subsequent lists will include players from all levels of college football.
2022 Comeback Player of the Year Watch List
The award recognizes 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 writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes will be honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Last season, Miller played in two games before being sidelined with a season-ending injury. So far in his sixth season, the Lakeland, Florida native has tallied 40 tackles, along with five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in five games.
Hill earned a medical redshirt last year after suffering a season ending injury prior to the season. The redshirt sophomore cornerback was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday following his two-interception performance against Missouri, including a 49-yard pick-six in the second quarter, in just his second game back from injury.
The initial watch list only includes players from Division I schools. Subsequent lists will include players from all levels of college football.
2022 Comeback Player of the Year Watch List
| CONFERENCE | PLAYER | SCHOOL | POSITION |
| ACC | Chibueze Onwuka | Boston College | DT |
| ACC | Phil Jurkovec | Boston College | QB |
| ACC | Bryan Breese | Clemson | DL |
| ACC | Frank Ladson Jr | Miami (Fla) | WR |
| ACC | Payton Wilson | NC State | LB |
| ACC | Christopher Toudle | NC State | TE |
| ACC | Trebor Pena | Syracuse | WR |
| ACC | Lavel Davis Jr | Virginia | WR |
| BIG 12 | JT Daniels | West Virginia | QB |
| BIG 12 | Khalid Duke | Kansas State | LB |
| BIG 12 | Adrian Martinez | Kansas State | QB |
| BIG 12 | Dillon Gabriel | Oklahoma | QB |
| BIG 12 | Trace Ford | Oklahoma State | DE |
| BIG TEN | DJ Matthews Jr | Indiana | WR |
| BIG TEN | Dontay Demus Jr | Maryland | WR |
| BIG TEN | Fa'Najae Gotay | Maryland | LB |
| BIG TEN | Mohamed Ibrahim | Minnesota | RB |
| BIG TEN | Treyson Potts | Minnesota | RB |
| BIG TEN | Gabe Ervin Jr | Nebraska | RB |
| BIG TEN | Bryce Kirtz | Northwestern | WR |
| BIG TEN | Cam Porter | Northwestern | RB |
| BIG TEN | Josh Proctor | Ohio State | S |
| BIG TEN | P.J Mustipher | Penn State | DT |
| BIG TEN | Adisa Isaac | Penn State | DE |
| BIG TEN | Cory Trice | Purdue | CB |
| BIG TEN | Aron Cruickshank | Rutgers | WR |
| BIG TEN | Ronnie Bell | Michigan | WR |
| BIG TEN | Jack Eschenbach | Wisconsin | TE |
| CONFERENCE USA | Chase Cunningham | Middle Tennessee | QB |
| CONFERENCE USA | Oscar Adaway III | North Texas | RB |
| CONFERENCE USA | Jyaire Shorter | North Texas | WR |
| CONFERENCE USA | Joshua Simon | Western Kentucky | TE |
| INDEPENDENT | Isaac Rex | BYU | TE |
| INDEPENDENT | Blake Fisher | Notre Dame | OL |
| INDEPENDENT | Marist Liufau | Notre Dame | LB |
| MID-AMERICAN | Jaylon Bester | Miami (Ohio) | RB |
| MID-AMERICAN | Kyle Pugh | Northern Illinois | LB |
| MOUNTAIN WEST | Miles Kendrick | New Mexico | QB |
| MOUNTAIN WEST | Deron Harrell | Wyoming | CB |
| PAC 12 | Justin Flowe | Oregon | LB |
| PAC 12 | Cam McCormick | Oregon | TE |
| PAC 12 | Isaac Hodgins | Oregon State | DL |
| PAC 12 | Laitu Latu | UCLA | LB |
| PAC 12 | JaTravis Broughton | Utah | CB |
| PAC 12 | Michael Penix Jr | Washington | QB |
| PAC 12 | Richard Newton | Washington | RB |
| SEC | Jalen Catalon | Arkansas | S |
| SEC | Ventrell Miller | Florida | LB |
| SEC | Jaydon Hill | Florida | CB |
| SEC | Dominick Blaylock | Georgia | WR |
| SEC | Kendall Milton | Georgia | RB |
| SEC | Octavious Oxendine | Kentucky | DL |
| SEC | Eli Cox | Kentucky | OL |
| SEC | Kayshon Boutte | LSU | WR |
| SEC | Ali Gaye | LSU | DE |
| SEC | Ennis Rakestraw Jr | Missouri | DB |
| SEC | Jaylon Robinson | Ole Miss | WR |
| SEC | Haynes King | Texas A&M | QB |
| SEC | Myles Jones | Texas A&M | CB |
| SEC | Re'Mahn Davis | Vanderbilt | RB |
| SUN BELT | Todd Bradley-Glenn | Georgia Southern | LB |
Players Mentioned
CB
/ Football
ILB
/ FootballFlorida Football | Sean Kelley, Coach Sumrall, Coach Spurrier, and Coach Meyer
Friday, December 12
Florida Football | Head Coach Jon Sumrall Sits Down with Gator Greats Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer
Friday, December 12
Florida Football | Urban Meyer & Nick Saban Interview | 2025 NFF Annual Awards Dinner
Wednesday, December 10
Coach Meyer and Coach Saban - Hall of Fame 12-09-25
Wednesday, December 10
