North Arlington, New Jersey, fifth-year running back among three selected in first of ten weeks for 2021 national award
Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award Week 1 Nominee Announcement
Kearns, Jr., is the first in program history named a nominee for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
EASTON, Mass. (September 14, 2021) – Stonehill College fifth-year running back Brian Kearns, Jr. has been named one of three week one nominees for the 2021 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), The Associated Press (AP), the Fiesta Bowl Organization and Mayo Clinic – your source for medical answers, this afternoon.
Kearns, Jr., who ranked second among Northeast-10 Conference rushing leaders as a junior in 2018, is the first Stonehill football student-athlete to earn a nomination for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award, which is in its fourth year. Kearns, Jr., is joined as week one nominees by University of Notre Dame quarterback Jack Coan and Baylor University linebacker Terrel Bernard. Ten times during the 2021 college football season, three inspiring student-athletes from all levels of college football who have overcome injury, illness or other challenges, will be recognized as Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Nominees by a panel of writers, editors and sports information directors from CoSIDA, AP and Touchdown Illustrated.
In December, three of the 30 nominees will be chosen as winners of the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award and will be recognized at a special ceremony during the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl on Saturday, January 1, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Kearns, Jr., suffered a season-ending knee injury on the opening drive of Stonehill's week two matchup with the University of New Haven during what was his senior season in 2019. He immediately vowed to return and not see his career ended by injury. The COVID-19 pandemic saw his return for spring practice cancelled, before the 2020 season was first postponed and then cancelled outright.
Determined to end his football playing career on his terms, Kearns, Jr., made his long-awaited return for the 2021 season. Teaming up with senior All-American and Harlon Hill Trophy candidate Justin Felder, the duo has produced the eighth-ranked rushing offense at the NCAA Division II level through the first two weeks, averaging 276.0 yards per game on the ground. Kearns, Jr., carried the ball 15 times for 103 yards, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, in his week one return as the Skyhawks posted a 35-13 victory over Bloomsburg (Pa.) University, marking the sixth 100-yard rushing performance of his career. He followed that up by scoring his first touchdown since the third quarter of Stonehill's 2018 season finale in Saturday night's 54-21 win over Southern Connecticut State University.
Through two weeks, Kearns, Jr., has carried the ball 28 times for 189 yards (94.5 per game) and a touchdown, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. He also has a 15-yard reception to his credit. Kearns, Jr., ranks fourth among NE10 leaders in rushing yards and third for yards per rushing attempt. He enters this weekend's contest ranked fifth in program history behind Felder with 2,256 career rushing yards and 25 career touchdowns, while ranking fourth in program history with 26 total touchdowns in 32 career games. His 961 rushing yards as a junior in 2018 ranks fifth on Stonehill's all-time single-season list, while the 12 touchdowns he scored ranks sixth and 72 points scored eighth all-time.
The business management major has been named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll six times. He is one of just three in program history to earn the New England Football Writers Division II/III Gold Helmet Award, having picked up the honor as a sophomore in 2017 and a junior in 2018.
Past winners of the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award have included: 2018 – Antwan Dixon (Kent State), Seth Simmer (Dartmouth), Antonio Wimbush (Carson-Newman); 2019 – Jake Luton (Oregon State), Drew Wilson (Georgia Southern), Octavion Wilson (Salisbury University); 2020 – Jarek Broussard (Colorado), Kenneth Horsey (Kentucky) and Silas Kelly (Coastal Carolina). For a complete list of past honorees and additional details on their remarkable comeback stories, visit www.Comeback-Player.com; follow via Twitter at @ComebackPlayrFB via the hashtag #MayoClinicCPOY; and on Instagram at @Comeback_Player_FB.
Kearns, Jr., rushed for over 100 yards in the Skyhawks week one win and then reached the end zone for the first time in three years in Saturday night's win (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Stonehill, listed among teams receiving votes in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II poll, is back in action on Saturday, when it visits rival Bentley University, also among teams receiving votes, for the NE10 opener for both in Waltham, Massachusetts, at 2 p.m. The Skyhawks return home the following Saturday, September 25, to host Assumption University for an NE10 matchup as part of Family Weekend at the College at 6 p.m.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
About Mayo Clinic: Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. For information on COVID-19, including Mayo Clinic's Coronavirus Map tracking tool, which has 14-day forecasting on COVID-19 trends, visit the Mayo Clinic COVID-19 Resource Center.
About CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America): CoSIDA was founded in 1957 and is a 3,000+ member national organization comprised of the sports public relations, media relations and communications/information professionals throughout all levels of collegiate athletics in the United States and Canada. The organization is the second oldest management association in intercollegiate athletics. To learn more, visit cosida.com.
About Associated Press: The Associated Press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world's population sees news from AP. On the web: www.ap.org.
About the Fiesta Bowl Organization: Since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education. On the web: FiestaBowl.org
