J.J. Weaver deserved moment in the Rupp Arena spotlight

J.J. Weaver with his family at midcourt at Rupp Arena Wednesday night. (UK Athletics Photo)

J.J. Weaver deserved a moment in the spotlight at Rupp Arena Wednesday night. No, he’s not a Kentucky basketball player but he still got a huge ovation from Kentucky fans because of what he’s done on the football field.

Weaver, a sophomore outside linebacker, is one of the three winners of the 2021 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award given by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in association with The Associated Press and the Fiesta Bowl Organization. Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, a Heisman Trophy finalist,  and Florida State’s McKenzie Milton are the other two honorees and will be recognized during the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 in Glendale, Arizona.

Obviously, Weaver will not be at the ceremony because he’ll be trying to help Kentucky beat Iowa in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Jan. 1 — and he’s a  key player for the Wildcats

Weaver tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) against Florida in November of 2020. He had 33.5 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss in nine games before hurting his right knee.

Weaver’s father had been murdered in the summer of 2020 and then this fall his high school coach in Louisville, Rob Reader, passed from liver cancer.  However, Weaver used those losses as motivation for his rehab work while undergoing grief counseling. He was able to return to competition months earlier than what originally was expected.

This season he has started six of 12 games with 34 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and six quarterback sacks. He also has four quarterback hurries, two interceptions, and a forced fumble for No. 22 Kentucky going into the Citrus Bowl.
 
Last year another UK player, offensive lineman Kenneth Horsey, was the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year and in 2019 Josh Paschal received honorable mention in the selection process.

Kentucky will receive a $30,000 donation to its general scholarship fund because of Weaver’s selection.