Paschal Named Honorable Mention for Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year
Junior outside linebacker Josh Paschal is one of six student-athletes to be named Honorable Mention for the 2019 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award, it was announced today.
He joins Shaun Crawford, a defensive back at Notre Dame, Alex Martinez, the starting quarterback at Saint Xavier, Hunter Spriggs, an offensive lineman for Chapman University, Isaiah Weston, a wide receiver for Northern Iowa and Antoine Winfield Jr., a Minnesota cornerback as Honorable Mention.
They were selected by The Associated Press, College Sports Information Directors of America, the Fiesta Bowl organization and the editors of Touchdown Illustrated, college football’s gameday publication, and a total of $2,500 will now be donated in Paschal’s name to the University of Kentucky’s general scholarship fund.
Paschal, a George’s County, Maryland native, has made an inspiring return to the football field after overcoming a malignant melanoma that appeared on the bottom of his foot just before training camp was to open in the summer of 2018. He underwent three surgeries and monthly immunotherapy treatments for more than a year before returning to action.
Paschal battled back on a limited basis for the final three games of the 2018 season and has made an immediate impact this season as a starter. In 12 games, he has totaled 34 tackles, 9.5 tackles (second on the team), 3.5 sacks (third on the team), two fumbles, one pass breakup and one blocked kick in helping the Cats advance to their fourth straight bowl game.
The college football student-athletes named winners of the 2019 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award are Jake Luton of Oregon State University, Drew Wilson of Georgia Southern University and Octavion Wilson of Salisbury University. The three players, who are being recognized for overcoming injury or illness, will be honored during an on-field ceremony at the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on December 28, 2019.
For more details, follow on social media at @ComebackPlayrFB and #MayoClinicCPOY, or visit www.Comeback-Player.com.
