In New York City, the College Sports Communicators (formerly known as CoSIDA), in collaboration with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization, has unveiled the midseason “Watch List” featuring 49 college football student-athletes hailing from 42 different schools. These players are currently being considered for the prestigious 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award. Among these outstanding athletes is Tavian Combs.
Combs stands out as one of the 49 contenders and is one of only three representatives from the Mountain West conference. Despite grappling with some persistent injuries, he has been a key contributor, starting and participating in four out of UNM’s five games. Impressively, Combs leads his team in tackles with a total of 42, showcasing his defensive prowess. Additionally, he has notched 3.0 tackles for loss, which is also the highest on the team, along with a pass breakup, a quarterback hurry, a forced fumble, and a blocked field goal.
Standing 12th among all active FBS players in tackles per game, Combs currently shares the 10th spot in tackles per game for this season, boasting an impressive average of 10.5 tackles per contest. This outstanding performance ranks him at the top nationally among defensive backs.
Looking ahead, New Mexico is set to kick off a two-game homestand on Saturday, with the team hosting San Jose State at 4 p.m. at University Stadium.
