RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech senior defensive lineman Eric Kendzior has been named to the 2020 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Watch List.
 
Kendzior made a big impact when he started his LA Tech career as he appeared in nine games and earned a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in 2016. As a true freshman, Kendzior recorded nine tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a quarterback hurry.
 
Then the injuries began to stack up.
 
The native of Deer Park, Texas, noticed his foot was hurting after the 2016 Armed Forces Bowl only to discover it was broken which caused him to miss spring ball. During his sophomore campaign, both of Kendzior's feet were in pain. After getting his feet checked out, Kendzior discovered they were beginning to crack and that he would need surgery. Kendzior continued to play that season, but then tore his elbow during the 2017 Frisco Bowl which would require another surgery.
 
Kendzior had his first surgery in mid-January of 2018 on his right foot as that was what was hurting him the most. When he was not in a boot, he was in a pool rehabbing.  Sometimes twice a day for multiple hours at a time.  The next surgery was on the left foot, requiring the same recovery methods.
 
The third and final surgery came in June on the elbow. After months of rehab, Kendzior's elbow still felt weak heading into the 2019 season. Though he had earned a medical redshirt in 2018 because of the surgeries, Kendzior told head coach Skip Holtz that he wasn't ready to play.
 
Then came the 2020 season.
 
After not playing in a football game since the Dec. 20, 2017, Frisco Bowl, Kendzior has started in all seven games for the Bulldogs at defensive end. He has recorded 23 total tackles, including nine solo, one sack for a loss of eight yards and two quarterback hurries. He had a career-high six tackles at UTSA on Oct. 24, and has recorded at least two tackles in every game so far this season.
 
There have been many changes to college football, this season, so rather than recognize college football student-athletes from all divisions of play each week during the season, several watch lists of Division 1 football student-athletes playing in the fall are being issued throughout the season. The three overall winners will be announced timed with the 2020-21 PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl, held on Jan. 2, 2021.
 
LA Tech football (4-3, 3-2 C-USA) returns to action on Saturday as the Bulldogs host Rice (1-1, 1-1 C-USA) in Joe Aillet Stadium at 2:30 p.m. (CT).
 
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