The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl organization have selected three college football student-athletes -- including University of Minnesota Duluth senior wide receiver/return specialist Nate Ricci -- as this season's initial Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award Nominees. Ricci joins Caleb Farley of Virginia Tech University and the University of Toledo's Cody Thompson.
 
Ten times during the 2018 college football season, three inspiring student-athletes from all levels of college football who have overcome injury, illness or other challenges will be recognized as Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Nominees. At the end of the season, the 30 nominees will be eligible for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award.
 
CoSIDA members can nominate deserving student-athletes at Comeback-Player.com.  Here's a look at this week's three nominees.

Ricci, a two-time Bulldog team captain, was on the doorstep of an All-American-caliber season last year before injuring his clavicle in week three. Even though it would have been easy to call it quits, the Stillwater, Minn., native decided last winter that he didn't want his college career to end this way, so he trained and rehabbed hard, all while completing his undergraduate degree. Ricci has helped lead the Bulldogs to a 4-0 start, recording 10 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns, plus a pair of 2-point conversions. He also has completed a pass for 31 yards, recorded one carry for 8 yards, returned nine punts for 133 yards and a pair of kickoffs for 25 yards.
 
Farley, a redshirt freshman defensive back for Virginia Tech University, was recruited as a defensive back and switched to wide receiver in the spring of 2017 because of a lack of depth at that position. He tore his ACL in the first practice of fall camp, underwent surgery and missed the entire season. Then, his mother lost her battle with cancer in January 2018. Undeterred, he returned to the field and inspired his teammates and coaches with his remarkably positive attitude. In his first collegiate game, back at defensive back, he registered two interceptions and earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors in a 24-3 win at Florida State. Through the first three games, Farley has recorded six tackles, one sack, two interceptions two passes defended and five kick returns for 96 yards.
 
Ricci, a two-time Bulldog team captain, was on the doorstep of an All-American-caliber season last year before injuring his clavicle in week three. Even though it would have been easy to call it quits, the Stillwater, Minn., native decided last winter that he didn't want his college career to end this way, so he trained and rehabbed hard, all while completing his undergraduate degree. Ricci has helped lead the Bulldogs to a 4-0 start, recording 10 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns, plus a pair of 2-point conversions. He also has completed a pass for 31 yards, recorded one carry for 8 yards, returned nine punts for 133 yards and a pair of kickoffs for 25 yards.
 
Cody Thompson, a fifth-year senior wide receiver at the University of Toledo, suffered a season-ending broken leg last year on Oct. 7 against Eastern Michigan University. Fully healed, he entered this season sixth on UT's all-time receiving list with 2,655 yards. He opened the season versus VMI with three receptions for 68 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown reception. But it was his blocked punt in the first quarter, in which he took the ball right off the punter's foot and ran it in from 11 yards out, that landed the Huron, Ohio, native on all the highlights shows. In a week three win over Nevada, Thompson tallied four catches for 57 yards and three touchdowns. Through three games, Thompson is second on the team with nine receptions for 144 yards and four touchdowns.
 
These three honorees are now eligible to be named a Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award winner at the end of the season. Mayo Clinic, the premier sponsor, will donate $5,000 to the general scholarship funds for the three winners and $2,500 in the name of six other worthy finalists. In addition, the three honorees will be recognized during a special ceremony during the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. Honorees and winners are selected by a panel of writers, editors and sports information directors from CoSIDA, AP and Touchdown Illustrated, and representatives of the Fiesta Bowl.
 
"We thank Mayo Clinic for stepping forward to help us share the personal stories of student-athletes overcoming adversity," says Doug Vance, executive director of CoSIDA. "Our goal is to help fans better appreciate the roads these young men have traveled. We hope these stories of achievement can inspire other people to meet the challenges in their own lives."
 
"We understand how challenging it can be for players to return from injury or illness," said Dr. Michael Stuart, co-director, Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine. "We are honored to be part of this award that recognizes qualities like motivation, determination and perseverance."
 
Chad Pennington, the only player twice named professional football's comeback player of the year award winner (2006, 2008), will serve as the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award ambassador. Pennington played his college football at Marshall University and was selected in the first-round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.