B.J. Smith Named to Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Watch List

TROY, Ala. – Troy senior running back B.J. Smith has been named to the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Watch List, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and the Associated Press recently announced.

Smith, a native of Millbrook, Ala., returned to the field this season after suffering two major injuries last year – one on the field and one off.

Coming off a 1,000-yard season in 2018, Smith was named the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year heading into the 2019 campaign. That season lasted just one game and two series before he ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee against Southern Miss; he had rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries in the opener.

Just as Smith was turning the corner in the rehab and looking to be back out for light work during spring practice, he was in a car accident on Jan. 5 which caused a hip dislocation and posterior wall fracture in his hip.

Undeterred, Smith went back to work rehabbing both injuries and was officially cleared for full contact by Dr. Jeffrey Dugas on Aug. 16. He has started every game for the Trojans this season and is Troy's second-leading rusher and third-leading receiver for the year.

Since 2018, a panel of writers, editors and sports information directors from CoSIDA, AP and Touchdown Illustrated have recognized 30 college football student-athletes each season from all divisions of college football for overcoming injury or illness, by sharing their remarkable comeback stories throughout the season. At the conclusion of the season, three college football student-athletes were honored as Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award winners during an on-field presentation at the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl.

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B.J. Smith Named to Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Watch List

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