With 11 days remaining until Alabama football‘s season opener at Florida State, two Crimson Tide starters were among those named to the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year watch list Tuesday.
Fifth-year senior linebacker Deontae Lawson and junior defensive back Keon Sabb both made the list a year after injuries cut short their respective seasons a year ago.
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Lawson sustained a season-ending ACL injury in Alabama‘s 24-3 loss at Oklahoma on Nov. 23. In 11 games last season, he was second on the team in tackles with 76 (36 solo) and had seven tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble.
Lawson was also named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Bednarik Award, as well as the Butkus Award and Nagurski Trophy.
Sabb, who officially transferred to Alabama from Michigan in February 2024, got off to a promising start last year but was limited to seven starts after a season-ending foot injury in Alabama’s 24-17 loss at Tennessee on Oct. 19.
Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack praised Sabb for being ahead of schedule earlier this month after fall camp opened.
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“Keon is doing a really good job,” Wommack said back on Aug. 2. “He has really pushed. Our training staff’s done a great job with him. I think he’s ahead of really every marker that we had in the offseason for him, and we weren’t sure if he was going to be able to go to the level that he’s going right now at the beginning of fall camp, but he is and he’s here.
“I don’t know if I could put a number on it exactly, but he’s out there playing with our guys, so he’s comfortable enough to be able to do that,” Wommack added. “Sometimes those injuries, you just have to build a callous of coming back and I think that’s something he’s really pushing himself to right now to get ready for the season.”
Sabb recorded 39 tackles (24 solo), one tackle for loss, four pass breakups and two interceptions a year ago. Both interceptions came in the Crimson Tide’s season-opening 63-0 win over Western Kentucky on Aug. 31.
About the Comeback Player of the Year Award
The Comeback Player of the Year is presented annually by College Sports Communications in association with the Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl.
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Per the award’s official website:
“Since 2018, the Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list has been comprised of 75 student-athletes who overcame an injury, illness or other circumstance in the previous year. Each player returned to full health for the 2025 season and showcased their skills, helping their teams compete to their highest potential.”
Three players were awarded the Comeback Player of the Year in 2024: South Carolina running back Rocket Sanders, Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough, and Utah State defensive back Ike Larsen.
Alabama football schedule 2025
All start times Central.
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Aug. 30: at Florida State, 2:30 p.m., ABC
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Sept. 6: vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network
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Sept. 13: vs. Wisconsin, 11 a.m., ABC or ESPN
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Sept. 27: at Georgia, 6:30 p.m., ABC
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Oct. 4: vs. Vanderbilt, TBA
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Oct. 11: at Missouri, 11 a.m., ABC or ESPN
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Oct. 18: vs. Tennessee, TBA
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Oct. 25: at South Carolina, TBA
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Nov. 8: vs. LSU, prime time
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Nov. 15: vs. Oklahoma, TBA
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Nov. 22 vs. Eastern Illinois, 1 p.m., ESPN+
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football starters on Comeback Player of the Year watch list
