CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- University of Illinois wide receiver Zakhari Franklin and running back Josh McCray were named to the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year preseason watch list on Wednesday by the College Sports Communicators, in association with the Associated Press and the Fiesta Bowl.
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Since 2018, the Comeback Player of the Year Award has recognized college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
- Comeback Player of the Year website
- Recent honorees:
- 2023: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan; Jacob Dobbs, LB, Holy Cross; Mike Hollins, RB, Virginia
- 2022: Laiatu Latu, LB, UCLA; Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington; Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota
- 2021: Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan; McKenzie Milton, QB, Florida State; J.J. Weaver, LB, Kentucky
ZAKHARI FRANKLIN
- Transferred to Illinois in the Summer 2024 with one year of eligibility remaining
- Enters the season as the NCAA's active career leader in receptions (266), receiving yards (3,386), and receiving touchdowns (38)
- Played in only four games as a senior in 2023 at Ole Miss
- Recorded four catches for 38 yards with one touchdown for the Rebels
- Four-year starter at UTSA (2019-22), appearing in 46 career games for the Roadrunners
- 2022 Phil Steele All-America honorable mention and three-time All-Conference USA selection (2020, 2021, 2022) for the Roadrunners
- Left UTSA as the program's single-season and career record holder for receptions, total receiving yards, receiving yards per game, 100-yard games, and receiving touchdowns
- Ranks 21st all-time in FBS history with 38 career receiving touchdowns, 12 more than any other active NCAA player entering the 2024 season
JOSH MCCRAY
- Missed all but nine games over the last two season, playing in the first five games (one start) in 2023 a seeing action in four games in 2022 before missing the rest of each year due to injury
- 2023 Doak Walker Award watch list
- 2023 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten third team
- Had a breakout freshman season in 2021, ranking second on the team in both carries (112) and rushing yards (549) with two rushing touchdowns
- Ranked ninth in the Big Ten and 14th nationally in rushing yards per carry (4.9) as a freshman
- Rushed for 142 yards at #7 Penn State (10/23/21), the most rushing yards ever by an Illini true freshman against a ranked opponent
- Rushed for career-high 156 yards – the most nationally by a freshman in a road game that season – on a career-high 24 attempts at Purdue (9/25/21)
- Rushed for 60 yards on eight attempts including his first-career touchdown against Maryland (9/17/21)
- Illinois victory team MVP against Nebraska (8/28/21)
ILLINI ON WATCH LISTS (AS OF AUGUST 7)
