PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football LB Mohamed Toure is a semifinalist for the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award, College Sports Communicators announced Thursday in association with The Associated Press and the Fiesta Bowl Organization. The Pleasantville, New Jersey, native is one of 15 players nationally from across all divisions to earn the honor.

After suffering a season-ending injury during spring practice in 2022, Toure was voted a captain this season and selected honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and media. He played in all 12 games and ranks second on the defense with 85 tackles, including a team-high 7.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks. That included a career-high 11 stops versus Maryland with an interception against Ohio State.

Toure grades as the fifth-highest rated linebacker in the Big Ten according to Pro Football Focus.

Rutgers held Big Ten opponents to an average of 25.1 points and 337.9 yards per game, the best marks in conference play in a season since joining the league. The unit ranks 18^th nationally in overall total defense (313.7), 11^th in passing yards allowed (175.9) and has totaled 11 stops in the red zone.

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.

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