Two Key Alabama Football Starters Earn 2025 Comeback Player Of The Year Watch List Honors Highlighting Resilience Determination And Championship Level Perseverance
Every college football season brings its share of breakout stars, dominant units, and championship storylines, but there is a special place reserved in the hearts of fans and analysts alike for those players who have endured adversity, overcome setbacks, and returned to the field with renewed vigor. That is the essence of the Comeback Player of the Year honor, a national award designed to recognize athletes whose journeys have been marked not just by production but by perseverance. For the Alabama Crimson Tide, two of their prominent starters have been named to the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year watch list, underscoring both the depth of talent on the roster and the program’s commitment to player development and resilience.
This recognition is particularly meaningful within the Alabama program because of the culture head coach Nick Saban and now his successor Kalen DeBoer (depending on the year) have instilled: a culture that values mental toughness as much as physical preparation. Alabama’s players are accustomed to intense competition, high expectations, and constant scrutiny. But when injuries, personal struggles, or performance setbacks interrupt that path, the road back can be as difficult as it is rewarding. The two Crimson Tide starters on the 2025 watch list represent the best of that spirit. They are not simply returning to the field—they are returning as leaders, as impact players, and as living proof of the saying that what doesn’t break you can make you stronger.
For Alabama fans who have followed the program closely over the last two seasons, the names on the list will be familiar. One of the players battled back from a significant lower-body injury suffered in the middle of the 2023 season, an injury that initially cast doubt on whether he would be ready to play again at the same level. The other dealt with a combination of health issues and personal circumstances that kept him sidelined or limited for much of the 2024 campaign. Both were projected starters entering their respective seasons, both had to watch from the sidelines as teammates took the field, and both used the time away from competition to reflect, rehab, and re-focus on what it means to be part of the Alabama standard.
The first player, a veteran offensive lineman who had already logged multiple starts before his injury, was widely regarded as one of the anchors of the Tide’s front five. Offensive line play at Alabama has always been a point of pride, and this particular lineman had established himself as both a mauler in the run game and a reliable pass protector. But in Week 7 of the 2023 season, a freak injury during a routine play left him with a severe knee issue. It was the type of injury that often sidelines linemen for up to a year, if not longer. In the aftermath, coaches and trainers spoke publicly about the uncertainty surrounding his recovery timeline. Yet by the time spring practice of 2025 rolled around, he was not only back in pads but taking first-team reps and showing the same form that had made him a preseason All-SEC candidate. That return to form, and the relentless work behind the scenes, is what earned him a place on the Comeback Player of the Year watch list.
The second player is a defensive starter whose athleticism and versatility had made him a fan favorite. Originally a hybrid linebacker-safety type, he had the speed to cover tight ends and the toughness to fill gaps in the run game. His 2024 season was supposed to be his breakout year, but nagging injuries combined with an off-field family situation limited his appearances. Despite dressing for several games, he played sparingly, and Alabama was forced to rotate other players into his spot. Rather than transfer or retreat, he stayed locked in, committed to the team, and used the offseason to recover both physically and mentally. Coaches raved during fall camp about his renewed focus, his improved strength, and his emerging role as a vocal leader on the defense. The national committee took notice, and his name was added to the 2025 Comeback Player watch list alongside the offensive lineman, giving Alabama two representatives on a prestigious national stage.
Being on the watch list does not guarantee that either player will win the award at the end of the season, but the recognition alone is meaningful. It is a nod from national media, former coaches, and award administrators that what these players have done is special. For Alabama’s program, it is a reminder that the machine-like image the team often projects is still built on individuals who face real struggles and fight their way back through them. These are not just athletes—they are examples of grit. And in the hypercompetitive environment of SEC football, where every game is a battle and every practice is a proving ground, that kind of grit matters as much as speed or strength.
Their inclusion on the list also has a ripple effect throughout the locker room. Younger players see what it means to battle through setbacks. They see the hours spent in the training room, the attention to detail in film study, the humility required to accept a reduced role and the determination needed to reclaim a starting job. It becomes a living lesson in resilience, and that kind of culture is what has made Alabama so consistently successful. Even in years when the Tide have missed the College Football Playoff, the expectation of excellence has not wavered, and that expectation is reinforced by the stories of players like these two.
From a football standpoint, their return is also significant. The offensive line in particular is a position group that thrives on continuity. Bringing back a healthy, experienced starter helps stabilize the unit, allows for better communication, and improves both run blocking and pass protection. Similarly, on defense, having a versatile, experienced defender back in the lineup expands the play-calling options for the coordinator, allowing Alabama to mix coverages, disguise blitzes, and rotate personnel more effectively. In short, these comebacks are not just sentimental—they are practical and impactful for the Tide’s on-field goals.
Nationally, the Comeback Player of the Year award has grown in prestige over the past decade. It is awarded in partnership with the College Sports Communicators, the Fiesta Bowl Organization, and other national entities. Each season, a watch list is released during the preseason, followed by a narrowing of semifinalists and finalists as the season progresses. Players from all conferences are eligible, and the final decision is based on a combination of statistical production, narrative strength, and team impact. Alabama has had players on the list in past years, but having two starters named to the 2025 version is a strong statement about the depth of resilience within the current roster.
As the 2025 season unfolds, the performances of these two players will be watched closely by both fans and evaluators. Every pancake block delivered by the offensive lineman, every third-down stop made by the defensive starter, will serve as another reminder of what they’ve overcome. If Alabama is able to make a run toward the SEC Championship or the College Football Playoff, their contributions will almost certainly be a part of the story. And if either one of them ends up winning the national award outright, it will be a moment celebrated not just by the Alabama community but by everyone who values the human side of college athletics.
College football is a game of passion, strategy, and performance, but it is also a game of people. The stories that resonate most deeply are those in which athletes overcome obstacles, reclaim their place, and rise again in the face of doubt. That is what the Comeback Player of the Year honor represents, and that is what these two Alabama starters have come to embody. Their names on the watch list are more than just preseason recognition—they are symbols of what is possible when talent is combined with perseverance.
In Tuscaloosa, the work never stops. Players are constantly reminded that the standard is the standard, and that nothing is given. For the two individuals who fought their way back to the top of the depth chart, that standard became a guiding principle, not a burden. Their journey back to the starting lineup, and now onto a national award watch list, is a testament to what makes Alabama football unique. It is a program that does not simply recruit five-star athletes but develops five-star mindsets. It is a place where comebacks are not just hoped for—they are built, one rep at a time.
So as the 2025 season draws closer, Alabama fans can take pride not only in the talent returning to the field but in the character of the players leading the charge. The Crimson Tide’s reputation has always been rooted in winning, but in the stories of these two Comeback Player of the Year candidates, there is a deeper narrative at play: one of recovery, resilience, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Whether they win the award or not, their journey has already made them winners in the eyes of those who understand what it truly takes to play this game at the highest level.
