For the second straight season, a Kentucky Wildcat has been named Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year. Outside linebacker JJ Weaver received the honor, along with two others, a year after offensive guard Kenneth Horsey. Weaver’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
In a span of 15 months Weaver’s father was murdered, his high school football coach died of cancer and he suffered a torn ACL. In spite of all that, Weaver returned to football and played in every game of the 2021 season. He led the team in sacks (6) and interceptions (2), and recorded 34 tackles, ten for loss, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.