Former Auburn safety Zac Etheridge, who came back from a neck injury he suffered in 2009, will be the recipient of the 2013 James Owens Courage Award during halftime of the Arkansas State game on Saturday.
This is the second year the James Owens Courage, which is given to a player who has shown courage in the face of adversity, will be awarded.
Etheridge has certainly seen his share of adversity.
After tearing ligaments in his neck against Ole Miss in 2009, it was questionable whether he would ever play football again.
But after wearing a neck brace for six months Etheridge returned to the team in 2010, and had the second-most tackles with 69, three interceptions and returned a fumble for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Arkansas.
He also started for Auburn in the 2011 BCS National Championship Game.
After playing one season with the Oakland Raiders, Etheridge returned to college football as a graduate assistant for former Auburn defensive coordinator Ted Roof at Penn State.
He is currently a graduate assistant under Roof at Georgia Tech.
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