NEW YORK—South Dakota junior cornerback Myles Harden is one of 15 semifinalists for the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award announced by College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization. Harden is one of two semifinalists representing the FCS. The other 13 represent the FBS.
 
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 the best defensive player in the Missouri Valley Football Conference during the 2022 season before sustaining an injury in game six. It marked the second year in a row that an injury kept him from competing in the second half of the season. Harden had forced a nation-leading six turnovers by that point. Just three FCS players forced more during the 2022 regular season.
 
Harden came back and has started all 11 games this season. He earned first-team all-MVFC honors while leading South Dakota to a 9-2 record, its highest ranking at the FCS level and the No. 3 national seed in the FCS playoffs. Harden recently accepted an invitation to compete in the East-West Shrine Bowl. He has six interceptions, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 26 passes defended in 27 collegiate contests.
 
A list of the 15 semifinalists follows:
Blake Corum, senior running back, Michigan
Jacob Dobbs, senior linebacker, Holy Cross
CJ Donaldson, sophomore running back, West Virginia
Justin Eboigbe, senior defensive lineman, Alabama
Thomas Fidone II, sophomore tight end, Nebraska
Malachi Fields, junior wide receiver, Virginia
Davon Ferguson, senior cornerback, Bowling Green
Myles Harden, junior cornerback, South Dakota
Daniel Hishaw Jr., sophomore running back, Kansas
Mike Hollins, senior running back, Virginia
Brett Johnson, junior defensive lineman, Cal
Devin Leary, senior quarterback, Kentucky
Christian Mahogany, senior offensive lineman, Boston College
Malik Robinson, senior linebacker, Houston
Mohamed Toure, senior linebacker, Rutgers