Football’s Dickson Agu Named To College Football Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
Aug 20, 2026 | Football
NEW YORK - Tulane redshirt junior linebacker Dickson Agu was recently named to the 2026 College Football Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.
Since 2018, the Comeback Player of the Year has recognized college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of Associated Press College football writers and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored during an on-field ceremony at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona on Dec. 30, 2026 at the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal game. Agu is one of 94 players on the preseason watch list this season.
Agu, a redshirt junior linebacker, played and started five games last season before an injury ended his campaign. He totaled 36 tackles, two tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble in 2025.
Here's a look at the 2026 Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.
Previous winners of the Comeback Player of the Year Award include: 2025 - Christian Bodnar (Liberty University); Byrum Brown (USF); Bryce Steele (Boston College); 2024: Ike Larsen (Utah State); Raheim Sanders (South Carolina); Tyler Shough (Louisville); 2023 – Blake Corum (Michigan); Jacob Dobbs (Holy Cross); Mike Hollins (Virginia); 2022 - Mohamed Ibrahim (Minnesota); Laiatu Latu (UCLA); Michael Penix Jr. (Washington); 2021 – Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan); McKenzie Milton (Florida State); J.J. Weaver (Kentucky); 2020 – Jarek Broussard (Colorado); Kenneth Horsey (Kentucky); Silas Kelly (Coastal Carolina); 2019 – Jake Luton (Oregon State); Drew Wilson (Georgia Southern); Octavion Wilson (Salisbury); 2018 - Antwan Dixon (Kent State), Seth Simmer (Dartmouth); Antonio Wimbush (Carson-Newman). For a complete list of past honorees, visit www.Comeback-Player.com.
About College Sports Communicators: College Sports Communicators is the premier membership association for all strategic, creative and digital professionals working in intercollegiate athletics across all levels for colleges, universities and conferences across the United States and Canada. CSC provides year-round leadership, community, professional development/education, recognition and advocacy for its 4,900 members. Founded in 1957 as the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the organization rebranded in 2022 to position itself as a more inclusive organization for communicators in all types of roles and to lead an industry change where strategic and creative professionals are more aligned. CSC's signature work includes the annual CSC Unite convention each June and the administration of the prestigious Academic All-America® program and Hall of Fame. Since 1952, more than 46,000 of the world's most elite student-athletes have been recognized with Academic All-America status in all sports. To learn more, visit CollegeSportsCommunicators.com.
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About Tulane Football
The Green Wave finished the 2025 season ranked No. 18 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls. This marked only the second time in four seasons, the third since 1998, and the fourth since 1970 that the program has finished a season nationally ranked.
Tulane won the American Conference Championship, securing its second conference title in four years. With an 11-3 record, it earned its first-ever playoff appearance in school history against Ole Miss. Notably, Tulane became the first team from Louisiana to make the College Football Playoff (CFP) in the 12-team format, qualifying as the fourth-highest ranked conference champion.
The 2025 season featured 11 wins in 14 games, including two victories over Power 4 opponents—the first time since 1988. The win over North Texas (34-21) secured Tulane's second conference title in four years.
The team earned 13 All-Conference selections, including the Special Teams Player of the Year. The team's returning All-Conference players for the 2026 season includes Jack Tchienchou (safety – 1st team), TJ Smith (return specialist – 3rd team), and Jason Arredondo (designated snapper –3rd team)>
Over the past four seasons, Tulane's record stands at 43-13.
2026 Tulane Football Schedule
Saturday, September 5 – at Duke – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 12 – vs. South Alabama – 6 p.m.
Saturday, September 19 – at Kansas State – 11 a.m.
Saturday, September 26 – vs. Southern Miss (Hall of Fame)
Saturday, October 10 – at Army – 11 a.m.
Friday, October 16 – vs. Memphis – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 24 – vs. UTSA
Friday, October 30 – at Charlotte – 6 p.m.
Saturday, November 7 – vs Tulsa (Homecoming)
Saturday, November 14 – at Rice
Saturday, November 21 – vs. North Texas
Friday or Saturday, November 27 or November 28 – at South Florida
Bold = Home Games
TICKETS
Tickets for the upcoming volleyball and football seasons can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane football on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
GREEN WAVE CLUB
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting greenwaveclub.com.
- TulaneGreenWave -
Since 2018, the Comeback Player of the Year has recognized college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of Associated Press College football writers and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored during an on-field ceremony at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona on Dec. 30, 2026 at the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal game. Agu is one of 94 players on the preseason watch list this season.
Agu, a redshirt junior linebacker, played and started five games last season before an injury ended his campaign. He totaled 36 tackles, two tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble in 2025.
Here's a look at the 2026 Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.
| PLAYER | SCHOOL | CONFERENCE | POSITION |
| Vic Listorti | Navy | American | RB |
| Jahiem White | North Texas | American | RB |
| Dickson Agu | Tulane | American | LB |
| Chris Thompson Jr. | Tulsa | American | LB |
| Sevion Morrison | Tulsa | American | RB |
| Jaden Alexis | USF | American | WR |
| Isaiah Crosby | California | ACC | DB |
| Nate Burrell | California | ACC | DL |
| Bryant Wesco Jr. | Clemson | ACC | WR |
| Nick Morris Jr. | Duke | ACC | LB |
| Ethan Pritchard | Florida State | ACC | LB |
| Justice Haynes | Georgia Tech | ACC | RB |
| Brody Barnhardt | NC State | ACC | S |
| Censere Lee | Pittsburgh | ACC | WR |
| Jalen Hale | SMU | ACC | WR |
| Jonathan Jefferson | SMU | ACC | DL |
| Steve Angeli | Syracuse | ACC | QB |
| Billy Edwards Jr. | North Carolina | ACC | QB |
| Monroe Mills | Virginia | ACC | OL |
| Xavier Brown | Virginia | ACC | RB |
| Jake Renfro | Illinois | Big Ten | OL |
| Xavier Scott | Illinois | Big Ten | DB |
| Tobi Osunsanmi | Indiana | Big Ten | DL |
| John Henry Daley | Michigan | Big Ten | DE |
| Rod Moore | Michigan | Big Ten | DB |
| Cam Fancher | Michigan State | Big Ten | QB |
| A.J. Turner | Minnesota | Big Ten | RB |
| Janiran Bonner | Nebraska | Big Ten | WR |
| Mac Markway | Nebraska | Big Ten | Edge/TE |
| Evan Stewart | Oregon | Big Ten | WR |
| Jeremiah Cooper | Penn State | Big Ten | DB |
| Max Granville | Penn State | Big Ten | DE |
| Tony Rojas | Penn State | Big Ten | LB |
| George Burhenn | Purdue | Big Ten | TE |
| Dantae Chin | Rutgers | Big Ten | OL |
| Moses Walker | Rutgers | Big Ten | LB |
| Malik Hartford | UCLA | Big Ten | DB |
| Ryan McCulloch | UCLA | Big Ten | LB |
| Caden Chittenden | USC | Big Ten | K |
| Waymond Jordan | USC | Big Ten | RB |
| Charlie Crowell | Washington | Big Ten | TE |
| Kade Eldridge | Washington | Big Ten | TE |
| Rashid Williams | Washington | Big Ten | WR |
| Trey Cooley | Washington | Big Ten | RB |
| Malcolm Hartzog | Arizona | Big 12 | DB |
| Tre Smith | Arizona | Big 12 | DE |
| DeKalon Taylor | Colorado | Big 12 | RB |
| Jayden Cofield | Texas Tech | Big 12 | DL |
| Quinten Joyner | Texas Tech | Big 12 | RB |
| Will Hammond | Texas Tech | Big 12 | QB |
| Hunter Andrews | Utah | Big 12 | TE/RB |
| Jaden Bray | West Virginia | Big 12 | WR |
| Zach Marker | Florida International | Conference USA | QB |
| Ashton Craig | Notre Dame | Independent | OL |
| Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa | Notre Dame | Independent | LB |
| Jaden Greathouse | Notre Dame | Independent | WR |
| Kedren Young | Notre Dame | Independent | RB |
| Daymon David | Akron | MAC | S |
| Corey Thompson Jr. | Ball State | MAC | WR |
| Dorian Pringle | Bowling Green | MAC | LB |
| Jadyn Glasser | Central Michigan | MAC | QB |
| Joshua Nobles | UMass | MAC | DL |
| T.Y. Harding | UMass | MAC | WR |
| TJ Magee | UMass | MAC | CB |
| Cole Cabana | Western Michigan | MAC | RB |
| Ben Ford | Boise St | Pac 12 | WR |
| Pearce Spurlin III | Colorado State | Pac 12 | TE |
| Noble Thomas Jr. | Oregon State | Pac 12 | DB |
| Jah-Marien Latham | Alabama | SEC | LB |
| Jeremiah Beaman | Alabama | SEC | DL |
| Champ Anthony | Auburn | SEC | S |
| Chas Nimrod | Auburn | SEC | WR |
| LJ McCray | Florida | SEC | DL |
| Ethan Barbour | Georgia | SEC | TE |
| Jordan Hall | Georgia | SEC | DL |
| Aaron Gates | Kentucky | SEC | DB |
| CJ Baxter | Kentucky | SEC | RB |
| Sam Greene | Kentucky | SEC | OLB |
| Sam Leavitt | LSU | SEC | QB |
| Whit Weeks | LSU | SEC | LB |
| Ahmad Hardy | Missouri | SEC | RB |
| Jahlil Florence | Missouri | SEC | CB |
| Jayden Gibson | South Carolina | SEC | WR |
| Andre Cojoe | Texas | SEC | OL |
| Ja'Den McBurrows | Appalachian State | Sun Belt | DB |
| Ja'Quez Cross | Appalachian State | Sun Belt | RB |
| Kanye Roberts | Appalachian State | Sun Belt | RB |
| Chance Gamble | Georgia Southern | Sun Belt | DB |
| Josh Dallas | Georgia Southern | Sun Belt | WR |
| Max Johnson | Georgia Southern | Sun Belt | QB |
| Blake Baker | LA Tech | Sun Belt | QB |
| Kolbe Fields | LA Tech | Sun Belt | LB |
| Koa Naotala | Old Dominion | Sun Belt | LB |
| Goose Crowder | Troy | Sun Belt | QB |
| Andrew Body | Alabama State | SWAC | QB |
Previous winners of the Comeback Player of the Year Award include: 2025 - Christian Bodnar (Liberty University); Byrum Brown (USF); Bryce Steele (Boston College); 2024: Ike Larsen (Utah State); Raheim Sanders (South Carolina); Tyler Shough (Louisville); 2023 – Blake Corum (Michigan); Jacob Dobbs (Holy Cross); Mike Hollins (Virginia); 2022 - Mohamed Ibrahim (Minnesota); Laiatu Latu (UCLA); Michael Penix Jr. (Washington); 2021 – Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan); McKenzie Milton (Florida State); J.J. Weaver (Kentucky); 2020 – Jarek Broussard (Colorado); Kenneth Horsey (Kentucky); Silas Kelly (Coastal Carolina); 2019 – Jake Luton (Oregon State); Drew Wilson (Georgia Southern); Octavion Wilson (Salisbury); 2018 - Antwan Dixon (Kent State), Seth Simmer (Dartmouth); Antonio Wimbush (Carson-Newman). For a complete list of past honorees, visit www.Comeback-Player.com.
About College Sports Communicators: College Sports Communicators is the premier membership association for all strategic, creative and digital professionals working in intercollegiate athletics across all levels for colleges, universities and conferences across the United States and Canada. CSC provides year-round leadership, community, professional development/education, recognition and advocacy for its 4,900 members. Founded in 1957 as the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the organization rebranded in 2022 to position itself as a more inclusive organization for communicators in all types of roles and to lead an industry change where strategic and creative professionals are more aligned. CSC's signature work includes the annual CSC Unite convention each June and the administration of the prestigious Academic All-America® program and Hall of Fame. Since 1952, more than 46,000 of the world's most elite student-athletes have been recognized with Academic All-America status in all sports. To learn more, visit CollegeSportsCommunicators.com.
_____________________________________________
About Tulane Football
The Green Wave finished the 2025 season ranked No. 18 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls. This marked only the second time in four seasons, the third since 1998, and the fourth since 1970 that the program has finished a season nationally ranked.
Tulane won the American Conference Championship, securing its second conference title in four years. With an 11-3 record, it earned its first-ever playoff appearance in school history against Ole Miss. Notably, Tulane became the first team from Louisiana to make the College Football Playoff (CFP) in the 12-team format, qualifying as the fourth-highest ranked conference champion.
The 2025 season featured 11 wins in 14 games, including two victories over Power 4 opponents—the first time since 1988. The win over North Texas (34-21) secured Tulane's second conference title in four years.
The team earned 13 All-Conference selections, including the Special Teams Player of the Year. The team's returning All-Conference players for the 2026 season includes Jack Tchienchou (safety – 1st team), TJ Smith (return specialist – 3rd team), and Jason Arredondo (designated snapper –3rd team)>
Over the past four seasons, Tulane's record stands at 43-13.
2026 Tulane Football Schedule
Saturday, September 5 – at Duke – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 12 – vs. South Alabama – 6 p.m.
Saturday, September 19 – at Kansas State – 11 a.m.
Saturday, September 26 – vs. Southern Miss (Hall of Fame)
Saturday, October 10 – at Army – 11 a.m.
Friday, October 16 – vs. Memphis – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 24 – vs. UTSA
Friday, October 30 – at Charlotte – 6 p.m.
Saturday, November 7 – vs Tulsa (Homecoming)
Saturday, November 14 – at Rice
Saturday, November 21 – vs. North Texas
Friday or Saturday, November 27 or November 28 – at South Florida
Bold = Home Games
TICKETS
Tickets for the upcoming volleyball and football seasons can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane football on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
GREEN WAVE CLUB
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting greenwaveclub.com.
- TulaneGreenWave -
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