J.J. Weaver tabbed semifinalist for Mayo Clinic Comeback POY Award

It only took nine months for J.J. Weaver to fully recover from a torn ACL. But he didn’t just ease his way back onto the gridiron, the sophomore came back even better than he was a year ago.

As a result, Weaver has been tabbed one of nine semifinalists for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award, which was announced on Thursday. The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder from Louisville had a terrific 2021 campaign, registering 34 tackles, 10 of them for loss to and 6.0 as sacks, in addition to four quarterback hurries, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. Weaver appeared in all 12 regular-season games for the ‘Cats this year, starting six of them.

.@jjtimeee is a semifinalist for the #MayoClinicCPOY @ComebackPlayrFB .

JJ is one of nine semifinalists who have overcome injury, illness or other adversity to excel on the field. #ForTheTeam x #BBN 😼🏈 https://t.co/3Re7nL7Q17

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 9, 2021

His fellow Kentucky teammate, offensive guard Kenneth Horsey, took home the award in 2020.

Aside from his untimely injury last November, Weaver also dealt with the loss of two people who were very close to him. His father was killed during a home invasion before his high school coach succumbed to liver cancer over the fall. Weaver has had to rehabilitate himself both physically and mentally over the last year-plus.

Weaver was still named to the All-Southeastern Conference Freshman Team despite his injury last season. He missed two games in 2020 and still managed to total 33.5 tackles, 6.5 of them for loss, in just nine appearances.

Below is more information on the Comeback Player of the Year Award, courtesy of UK Athletics.

---

The semifinalists were selected by a panel of writers, editors, and sports information directors from CoSIDA, AP and Touchdown Illustrated, from a field of 30 nominees recognized throughout the season.  On December 21, three winners and six honorable mentions will be announced and $30,000 will be donated in the names of the honorees to their schools’ general scholarship funds, with $15,000 being awarded in the names of the three winners and $15,000 on behalf of the six named honorable mention. Additionally, the three Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award winners will be recognized at a special ceremony during the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2022, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
 
The other semifinalists are Taijh Alston (DL, West Virginia); Terrel Bernard (LB, Baylor); Jack Coan (QB, Notre Dame); Ryan Hubley (WR, Johns Hopkins); Aidan Hutchinson (DE, Michigan); McKenzie Milton (QB, Florida State); Cameron Rising (QB, Utah) and Avery Samuels (OL, Stetson).