PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football LB Tyreem Powell is one of 12 semifinalists for the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award, College Sports Communicators announced Tuesday in association with Associated Press and the Fiesta Bowl Organization.

A team captain, Powell missed the final five games of 2023 due to injury and suffered a separate injury in the winter. He returned to the field at Virginia Tech and contributed a tackle-for-loss on his first play from scrimmage of the season. Overall, the linebacker has totaled 49 tackles in nine games.

The Vineland, New Jersey, native forced a fumble against Minnesota that sparked a comeback win in the fourth quarter, ending the game with a season-best eight tackles. He also broke up two passes versus Washington and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten.

Powell has collected 193 career tackles with 11.5 for loss and five sacks in 42 games played for the Scarlet Knights.

Since 2018, the award has recognized 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 select panel, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.

The Scarlet Knights are bowl eligible and are poised to earn the 13th bowl invitation in program history. For fans interested in receiving bowl ticket information, please submit the 2024 Rutgers Bowl Interest Form. Details will be sent out as they become available in the coming weeks.

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