Kentucky’s injury-hit roster now has three names on the national Comeback Player of the Year watch list, and all three are coming into 2026 with something to prove.
Senior running back CJ Baxter Jr., senior defensive back Aaron Gates and senior outside linebacker Sam Greene were among the players selected for the preseason list released by the College Sports Communicators, in association with the Associated Press and the Fiesta Sports Foundation. The watch list includes 91 other contenders from 58 other schools.
Baxter arrived at Kentucky from Texas after injuries wrecked the last stretch of his career. The former five-star back tore the ACL, LCL and PCL in his right knee in 2024, then dealt with a hamstring injury early in 2025. Even with the setbacks, he has produced 855 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 22 career games, averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
Gates, a Florida transfer, is slated to handle Kentucky’s flexible “star” role. His path has been just as rough: a torn ACL late in 2024 and then a torn labrum four games into his 2025 season. In 18 career games, Gates has logged 34 tackles and three fumble recoveries.
Greene is back from a torn ACL suffered against Florida last November. Before that injury, he put together a strong first season in Lexington, posting 25 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack in 2025 after two years at USC. Over 24 career games, Greene has 41 tackles and six TFLs, and PFF lists him as the SEC’s ninth-best returning edge rusher with a 75.8 grade.
Kentucky has already seen two players win the award in consecutive years. Kenneth Horsey and J.J. Weaver took the honor in 2020 and 2021.
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