Dixon Named Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Nominee
10/2/2018 8:21:00 PM | Football
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Kent State wide receiver Antwan Dixon (Fort Myers, Fla.) was selected as a Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award Nominee Tuesday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl organization.
Ten times during the 2018 college football season, three inspiring student-athletes from all levels of college football who have overcome injury, illness or other challenges are recognized as Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Nominees. At the end of the season, the 30 nominees will be eligible for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Dixon has made 19 catches on the season, but 16 months ago, catching passes was far from the minds of his family and friends. On Sept. 1, he played for the first time in three years at Illinois after battling aplastic anemia, a rare blood disorder that he was first diagnosed with in high school.
After leading the team in receiving yards (355) in 2015, Dixon's symptoms forced him to leave school. As his condition worsened, his weight dropped to 125 pounds, but a life-saving bone marrow transplant from his father (Anthony Dixon) led to one of the best comeback stories in all of college football.
All nominees are eligible for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award, presented at the end of the season. Mayo Clinic, the premier sponsor, donates $5,000 to the general scholarship funds for the three winners and $2,500 in the name of six other finalists. In addition, the three honorees will be recognized during a special ceremony at the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. Honorees and winners are selected by a panel of writers, editors and sports information directors from CoSIDA, AP and Touchdown Illustrated, and representatives of the Fiesta Bowl.
