Indiana running back Solomon Vanhorse is one of several Hoosiers to be named to a preseason award watch list ahead of the 2024-25 season after being named to the College Football Comeback Player of the Year Watchlist.
Vanhorse heads into his final season of college football with IU Football after spending the last six years of his career with James Madison. He missed 20 of his team’s last 24 games due to injuries and looks to make a return to the field now with the Hoosiers.
Vanhorse caught seven passes for 93 yards and a touchdown during those four games, but made a bigger impact in the return game for the Dukes. When healthy he has shown to be an all-around threat, catching seven touchdowns and rushing for seven touchdowns while also adding a kickoff return touchdown.
As a junior in 2021, Vanhorse was honored on the third-team All-Colonial Athletic Association as a kick returner. He has averaged 23.6 yards per kickoff return during his career for James Madison.
Vanhorse will look to finish his career on a high note and make an impact in his first year with IU Football this season.
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The College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) in association with The Associated Press and the Fiesta Bowl Organization, award the College Football Comeback Player of the Year Award. Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Entering his seventh season of college football, Vanhorse has missed 20 of his potential 24 games over the last two seasons, including the final 12 of the 2023 season due to injury. Vanhorse was a third-team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection as a kick returner in 2021, he became the 39th player in FBS or FCS since 1996 to return a kickoff for a touchdown, score a rushing touchdown and have a receiving touchdown in the same game (Towson, 11/20).
He has accounted for 15 career touchdowns in his career with seven rushing, seven receiving and one return score. He owns 1,910 all-purpose yards on 165 career touches (136 rush, 55 receptions, 2 PR, 28 KR). He averages 23.6 yards per kickoff return in his career and 10.7 yards per reception.
2024 Indiana Football Preseason Accolades
James Bomba – AFCA Good Works Team Nominee, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
James Evans – Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List
D’Angelo Ponds – Lott Trophy Preseason Watch List
Elijah Sarratt – Bilitikoff Award Preseason Watch List
Solomon Vanhorse – College Football Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
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