Danielle Daniels

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A pair of Boilermakers landed on the Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List ahead of the 2023 football season, the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization announced Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 22). Defensive lineman Damarjhe Lewis and tight end Garrett Miller were named to the watch list after missing the entire 2022 campaign due to injury.

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 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.

Following an injury during fall camp that required him to miss the 2022 season, Lewis is back at practice and ready to take the field for Purdue. As a sophomore in 2021, his first season as a Boilermaker, he appeared in 12 games and made a trio of starts on the defensive line. Lewis recorded eight tackles to go along with one pass breakup and two quarterback hurries.

On the other side of the ball, Miller is ready to join the Air Raid offense under head coach Ryan Walters and offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. The Round Rock, Texas, native played in 21 games over three seasons (2019-21) before a preseason injury forced him to the sidelines for the entire 2022 campaign. In 2021, his last time on the field for the Old Gold and Black, Miller caught 19 passes for 165 yards over 11 games. He started four times throughout the year. Miller’s biggest game was helping the Boilermakers upset No. 3 Michigan State, as the tight end hauled in eight receptions for 74 yards.

COURTESY PURDUE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS