J.J. Weaver has 5.5 tackles for loss in five games this season. (UK Athletics Photo)
J.J. Weaver has been a big-play producer for undefeated Kentucky this season — which is even more remarkable since he tore his anterior cruciate ligament against Florida in November last season and his status for this season was in doubt. Weaver not only had to overcome the knee injury but his father was murdered before the season started and his high school head coach recently passed.
But Weaver has 14 tackles in five games. He has 5.5 tackles for loss, four quarterback sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception.
All those factors are why Weaver is a nominee for the 2021 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award. His nomination was announced Tuesday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization.
Weaver was good enough in 2020 to earn All-Southeastern Conference Freshman Team honors when he had 33.5 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss. He’s been even better this season even though coach Mark Stoops had to limit his play count the first few games and says he is still not to back to 100 percent athletically.
However, Weaver got an emotional boost last week when Kentucky beat Florida — the same team he was playing when he was hurt — for the first time in Lexington since 1986. He had four tackles and his first UK interception.
That performance obviously helped put a national spotlight on his emotional comeback story and now he’s one of the nominees for this award from all levels of college football who have overcome injury, illness, or other challenges. In December, three of the 30 nominees will be chosen as winners of the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award and will be recognized at a special ceremony during the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
One Response
Weaver is getting it done.