2013 College Football Preseason Rankings: Top 5 Comeback Players

2013 College Football Preseason Rankings: Top 5 Comeback Players: Injuries have always been a part of the game of football, and it seems like every college football there are several big names and important players that are lost for the year because of serious injuries. Last year was no exception, but several talented players that missed all or most of 2012 are set to return in 2013. Of course, some of the players returning from injury are likely to be more valuable than others, and a few should have a serious impact on their respective teams. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the players coming back from injuries that should make the biggest impact in the 2013 college football season.

1.      Henry Josey, Running Back, Missouri Tigers

His 1,168 rushing yards were the most in the Big 12 when he went down with a knee injury in 2011, and his 8.1 yards per carry that year were the most in the country. Unfortunately for Josey, it took three knee surgeries to repair the damage and he missed all of 2012. That being said, he is back in the Tigers backfield in 2013, and while the SEC competition will be fierce, his speed and explosiveness are legit in any conference. He and dual-threat quarterback James Franklin should form a dynamic duo for a Missouri offense that struggled in its first year in the SEC.

2.      Jackson Jeffcoat, Defensive End, Texas Longhorns

After a monstrous sophomore campaign that included 7.5 sacks and 17.0 additional tackles for loss, Jeffcoat already had four sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss when he went down with a torn pectoral. Well, he is set to return in 2013, and with several teams in the Big 12 breaking in new quarterbacks, a sack-filled comeback campaign should on tap. Jeffcoat has a chance to be one of the best defensive ends in the country, and the pressure he will put on opposing quarterbacks will go a long way to improving a Texas defense that struggled most of last season.

3.      Ronald Powell, Defense End, Florida State Seminoles

Powell led the Gators with 6.0 sacks as a sophomore in 2011, but he suffered a knee an ACL injury last spring and reinjured the knee during the rehab process. Despite the setback, he will be back on the field to open 2013 as the centerpiece of the Gators’ pass rush. This guy was the No. 1 recruit in the county coming out of high school, and his sophomore season was just a taste of what he has to offer. After all, coach Will Muschamp has brought in a lot of talent since he last played, which should only create more opportunities for Powell to make plays.

4.      Blake Countess, Cornerback, Michigan Wolverines

He was good enough to start for the Wolverines as a freshman, but his sophomore season came to an early end when he tore is ACL in the opener against Alabama. He will jump right back into the starting lineup for Michigan, and his return can’t come soon enough considering the Wolverines lost two other starters in the secondary from last year’s team. Assuming he used his time on the sidelines to improve his knowledge of the position, Countess should be able to parlay the combination of physical tools and added experience into a big year.

5.      Devon Kennard, Outside Linebacker, USC Trojans

A torn pectoral cost him the entire 2012 season, but he is back as part of loaded front seven for USC in 2013. Kennard has the size and speed to play either defensive end or outside linebacker, and he has actually played both during with the Trojans already in his career. He is slated to start at linebacker this season, and he should waste little time causing issues for opposing offenses by providing pressure of the edge.

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