GREENVILLE, S.C. - Conference Carolinas named Chowan football's Courtney Massingill the 2025-26 Comeback Athlete of the Year, presented by Vernon Graphics & Promotions.

During May 2024 Massingill and his brother were hit by a drunk driver at home in Texas where he suffered significant trauma and was airlifted from the scene. He was in a medically induced coma for two weeks while undergoing repairs for a broken left femur, tibia and fibula with metal rods inserted in all areas. Massingill also sustained an axonal brain injury, kidney contusion, lacerated liver and an injury to his transverse colon.

Overall, Massingill spent about six weeks in the hospital and further time in a rehab facility before returning home. His return to campus for the fall of 2024 was delayed by a few weeks, and when he returned to campus and was watching his teammates practice from the sidelines, he was tackled causing a re-break in his left tibia and fibula and significantly bent the rod in his lower leg. He then had to undergo another long surgery to have a new rod placed in his lower leg to recover.

During these setbacks, his faith and positive spirit kept him and everyone else around him going strong. He never felt sorry for himself and knew that this was God's plan for him. He continued to work hard through rehab and was able to start rejoining workouts in the Spring of 2025 on a limited basis. Massingill was cleared to participate by the surgeons in the fall for the 2025 season and returned to the field to play out his senior season.

Massingill is not only an inspiration and leader on the field but across our campus. His spirit and faith are felt by all who are blessed to know Courtney Massingill. He finished his undergraduate degree in December of 2024 in business administration and recently graduated with his Master's of Arts in Organizational Leadership on May 10.

The Comeback Athlete of the Year award recognizes a student-athlete who participates in a conference-sponsored sport, suffers a significant injury and comes back to make significant contributions to their team after recovering. The award is presented annually.

The head athletic trainer from each Conference Carolinas member institution submits one nominee each based on the award criteria. The head athletic trainers then select the winner.
 

---

Comeback Athlete of the Year Presented by Vernon Graphics & Promotions Award Winners
2026: Courtney Massingill, Chowan
2025: Precious Daley, UNC Pembroke
2024: Carl Cleveland, Young Harris
2023: Grant Lohmeier, Belmont Abbey
2022: Ali Davis, Mount Olive
2021: Kiara Burke, Mount Olive
2020: Jordan Blake (Barton), Alexis Rogers (Belmont Abbey), Faith Flanagan (Erskine), Jordan Floyd (King), Katie Lysaght (Lees-McRae), Jarrett Malone (Limestone), DJ Brooks (North Greenville)
2019: Zack Bowers, Erskine
2018: Trey Matthews, Southern Wesleyan
2017: No selection
2016: Avery Wallis, Lees-McRae
2015: Nolan Albrecht, Belmont Abbey
2014: Amber Weaver, Barton