NEW YORK—South Dakota cornerback Myles Harden is one of 49 college football student-athletes – and one of six FCS players – currently under consideration for the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award.
 
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.
 
Harden was named a sophomore all-American by HERO Sports and an all-MVFC honoree last season despite playing in just six games. That's because he forced six turnovers in those games and was the Coyotes' third-leading tackler up to that point.
 
Harden was named a preseason, first-team all-American this year and is leading a South Dakota defense that ranks first in scoring defense among FCS scholarship programs. He has one interception, recovered a fumble and has 26 tackles, which ranks fourth on the team.
 
South Dakota is 4-1 and back in the top 10 of the national rankings for the first time since 2017. The Coyotes host nationally-ranked Youngstown State (3-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday inside the DakotaDome.
 
Here's a look at the October 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Watch List:
 
Conference     Player                           Team                          Position
AAC                  Nikhai Hill-Green             Charlotte                     LB
AAC                  Rahjai Harris East           Carolina                       RB
AAC                  Tai Lavatai                      Navy                           QB
AAC                  Anthony Watkins             Tulsa                           RB
ACC                  Christian Mahogany         Boston College             OL
ACC                  Tyler Van Dyke               Miami                          QB
ACC                  Savion Jackson               NC State                      DE
ACC                  Stefon Thompson            Syracuse                     LB
ACC                  Malachi Fields                 Virginia                        WR
ACC                  Mike Hollins                    Virginia                        RB
BIG TEN            Cam Camper                   Indiana                       WR
BIG TEN            Erick All                          Iowa                           TE
BIG TEN            Blake Corum                   Michigan                      RB
BIG TEN            Thomas Fidone II            Nebraska                     TE
BIG TEN            Garrett Miller                  Purdue                        TE
BIG TEN            Mohamed Toure              Rutgers                       DL
Big 12               Malik Robinson               Houston                      LB
Big 12               Daniel Hishaw Jr.            Kansas                        RB
Big 12               Alan Bowman                 Oklahoma State           QB
Big 12               Jaden Bray                     Oklahoma State           WR
Big 12               Jalen Catalon                  Texas                          DB
Big 12               Cole Spencer                  Texas Tech                  OL
Big 12               CJ Donaldson Jr.             West Virginia               RB
Independent     Tyrell Robinson               Army                           RB
MAC                  Davon Ferguson              Bowling Green             CB
MAC                  Terion Stewart                Bowling Green             RB
MAC                  Marion Lukes                  Central Michigan          RB
MAC                  Myles Bailey                    Central Michigan          RB
MAC                  O'Shaan Allison               Ohio University            RB
Mountain West Markel Reed                   Boise State                  CB
Mountain West Tavian Combs                 New Mexico                 S/LB
Mountain West Sabastian Harsh              Wyoming                     DE
Pac 12              Brett Johnson                 Cal-Berkeley                DL
Pac 12              Romello Height               USC                             RE
Pac 12              Edefuan Ulofoshio           Washington                 LB
SEC                  Justin Eboigbe                Alabama                      DL
SEC                  Devin Leary                    Kentucky                     QB
SEC                  Ainias Smith                   Texas A&M                  WR
SEC                  Max Johnson                  Texas A&M                  QB
Sun Belt            Corey Rucker                  Arkansas State             WR
Sun Belt            Braydon Bennett             Coastal Carolina           RB
Sun Belt            Rasheen Ali                    Marshall                      RB
Sun Belt            Stephen Dix Jr.              Marshall                      LB
CAA                  Matthew Downing           Elon                            QB
MVFC                DJ Williams                     Murray State                QB
MVFC               Myles Harden               South Dakota            CB
Patriot League   Jacob Dobbs                   Holy Cross                   LB
UAC                  Keith Davis                     Utah Tech                    WR
UAC                  Ronnie Walker Jr.            Utah Tech                    RB