McNeely Named to Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List

* University of Wyoming press release

LARAMIE -- The College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization, today released a “Watch List” of 90 college football student-athletes from 68 different schools currently under consideration for the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Cowboy running back Dawaiian McNeely was named to the list after missing all of last season with an injury.

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In 2022, McNeely appeared in 10 games with one start on the season. He recorded 356 rushing yards on 63 carries for 5.7 yards per carry. He also added one touchdown on the season. He rushed for a season-high 81 yards on four carries with a career-long rush of 61 yards against Hawaii.

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He also added a touchdown in that contest. He recorded 12 rushes for 62 yards against New Mexico.

When will McNeely see the field this fall?

"I've talked to Dawaiian, and I appreciate this, I've told him, you're not going to be out there until I know that you are 100% and that you're really, really ready to go," Wyoming's first-year head coach Jay Sawvel said. "If he's at 90%, then he's still not going to play ... I don't want to run him out there when he's not ready to go."

Since 2018, the 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.

College athletic communications professionals working with football programs are encouraged to nominate deserving candidates at www.Comeback-Player.com.

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Other Mountain West players on the list:

Boise State: Latrell Caples

Fresno State: Cam Lockridge