NEW YORK – Alabama’s Deontae Lawson was named a semifinalist for the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year Award, as announced by College Sports Communicators in conjunction with the Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Sports Foundation on Wednesday.

Lawson is among 15 semifinalists up for the Comeback Player of the Year Award, which recognizes 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. The 2025 recipients will be announced on Dec. 17 and recognized at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8, 2026.

Lawson would represent the first winner of the Comeback Player of the Year Award in Alabama program history.

Deontae Lawson

Linebacker, Redshirt Senior

• Suffered a season-ending injury in 2024, though is back to full strength as a fixture for the Crimson Tide defense
• Leads a defense that is statistically ranked as one of the nation’s most outstanding defensive units
• One of only 16 two-time permanent captains in program history after earning the title each of the last two seasons
• Started all 12 games for Alabama, helping lead the Tide to a 10-2 regular season standing and a 7-1 mark in SEC play, equating to a berth in the 2025 SEC Championship game
• Tied for the team lead with 69 tackles, including three for loss (-5 yards), to go with three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and a quarterback hurry