Football | December 8

DeKALB, IL – Linebacker Kyle Pugh (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom Township) has been named a semifinalist for the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year, as announced by College Sports Communicators and the Associated Press.
 
Pugh, in his eighth year in the NIU football program, played in all 12 games this season after missing the 2021 season due to a knee injury suffered late in 2021 spring practice. He was third on the team in tackles with 55, adding two tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Pugh had a season-high 12 tackles on Sept. 17 against Vanderbilt.
 
In 46 career games Pugh made 241 tackles with 14.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks. He is a two-time All-Mid-American Conference selection, earning Second Team honors in 2018 after his 2017 season was cut short due to a season-ending arm injury. After playing in just two games in 2019, Pugh rebounded in 2020 to earn Third Team honors. Pugh has also been named to the Academic All-MAC Team twice.
 
2022 Comeback Player of the Year Semifinalists
Payton Smith – NC State Linebacker
Adrian Martinez – Kansas State Quarterback
Dillon Gabriel – Oklahoma Quarterback
Trace Ford – Oklahoma State Defensive End
Mohamed Ibrahim – Minnesota Running Back
Ronnie Bell – Michigan Wide Receiver
Chase Cunningham – Middle Tennessee Quarterback
Jyaire Shorter – North Texas Wide Receiver
Marist Liufau – Notre Dame Linebacker
Kyle Pugh – NIU Linebacker
Justin Flowe – Oregon Linebacker
Laitu Latu – UCLA Linebacker
Michael Penix Jr. – Washington Quarterback
Ventrell Miller – Florida Linebacker
Ray Davis – Vanderbilt Running Back
 
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