As every football fan knows, injuries play a big role in how a team performs. When star players go down, chances are his replacement can't truly replace him.
That wasn't the case at Ohio State last season, though, when J.T. Barrett stepped in for Braxton Miller and guided the Buckeyes to a 12-0 start. Then, when Barrett was injured in the regular-season finale, Cardale Jones entered college football lore by guiding Ohio State to three consecutive wins and the national title.
Miller's return from injury has been one of the most-followed college football stories of the past six months, and it will continue to be newsworthy -- especially if he decides to play his senior season elsewhere. But he is not the only key player returning from injury.
Here are 12 other players who missed at least three-quarters of the 2014 season but are hugely important to their teams' success this fall. In short, given their importance and talent, these dozen guys could be considered the top Comeback Player of the Year candidates.
Again, this includes only players who missed at least three-quarters of the 2014 season; that's why players such as BYU QB Taysom Hill, Mississippi WR Laquon Treadwell and Clemson QB Deshaun Watson aren't listed.
WR Bralon Addison, Oregon
CB Brandon Facyson, Virginia Tech
OT Tyler Johnstone, Oregon
QB Chuckie Keeton, Utah State
DT Nile Lawrence-Stample, Florida State
DE Carl Lawson, Auburn
DT Luther Maddy, Virginia Tech
TE Jake McGee, Florida
CB Demetrious Nicholson, Virginia
S Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
LB Michael Rose-Ivey, Nebraska
CB Tee Shepard, Mississippi
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
