LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – The Little Rock Touchdown Club and Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP announced the finalists for the second annual 2014 CLIFF HARRIS AWARD. The award is presented to the nation's top small college defensive player representing more than 5,000 defensive players for almost 500 NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA colleges and universities.
The finalist list includes 38 Division II players, 18 Division III players and 14 players from NAIA. An overall winner will be announced on December 24 and honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club's annual awards banquet in February 2015. The winner will receive the $3,000 Cliff Harris Award trophy presented by Cliff Harris along with featured speaker NFL Hall of Fame member and former Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin. In addition to the overall winner, the top vote getters from each division will also be announced. A prestigious group of former college and pro football greats serve on the Cliff Harris Award Committee.
The inaugural winner of the award was Lindenwood University cornerback Pierre Desir who was selected in the 4th round of the NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. Ten percent of the 2013 Cliff Harris Award finalists made NFL rosters this season.
For the story of Cliff Harris go to www.CliffHarrisAward.com and read about his amazing journey from an overlooked high school player from tiny Des Arc, Ark., and one scholarship offer to then-NAIA Ouachita Baptist University to five Super Bowls and six Pro Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys.
Cam Grad (Lake Tapps, Wash.) recently completed his senior season as a linebacker for the Oaks. In 11 games, Grad recorded 65 total tackles, 44 solo and 21 assisted, and a team-best six sacks. He ranks fifth all-time at Menlo College with 14.5 career sacks and fifth in career tackles with 163 career tackles. Grad is the first player from Menlo College to be named a finalist for this award.
2014 CLIFF HARRIS AWARD FINALISTS
Ryan | Aelker | JR | DE | Bluffton University | DIII |
Darius | Allen | SR | DE | CSU-Pueblo | DII |
Steve | Ambs | JR | DL | Ursinus College | DIII |
Justin | Avery | SR | LB | University of Charleston | DII |
Lucky | Baar | SR | DE | McKendree University | DII |
Zach | Bell | SR | DE | Millsaps College | DIII |
Devin | Benton | SR | DT | Southwestern Oklahoma State University | DII |
Sean | Blomquist | SR | LB | Carroll College | NAIA |
Tanner | Botts | SR | LB | Lenoir-Rhyne University | DII |
Beau | Brewer | SR | LB | Louisiana College | DIII |
Deron | Bruce | SR | DL | Ottawa University | NAIA |
Jake | Bussani | SR | CB | Wesleyan University | DIII |
George | Christas | SR | DB | Lock Haven University | DII |
Tyre | Coleman | SR | DE | Hobart College | DIII |
Tyler | Condit | JR | LB | University of New Haven | DII |
Jacob | Edleman | SR | FS | Central College | DIII |
Nores | Fradi | SR | OLB | Wayne State University | DII |
Leron | Furr | SR | LB | Fort Valley State | DII |
Frank | Gaffney | SR | OLB | Lebanon Valley College | DIII |
Josh | Gordon | JR | DE | Minnesota State Mankato | DII |
Cameron | Grad | SR | LB | Menlo College | NAIA |
Brady | Grayvold | SR | DB | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | DIII |
Michael | Gruber | SR | ILB | Brevard College | DII |
Nathan | Hancock | SR | S | Minnesota State University, Mankato | DII |
Connor | Harris | SO | LB | Lindenwood University | DII |
Greg | Hayward | SR | DE | Saint Xavier University | NAIA |
Ryan | Hogan | SR | DE | Trine University | DIII |
Julian | Howsare | SR | DE | Clarion University of PA | DII |
Rory | Island | SR | MLB | Delta State University | DII |
Austin | Jacques | JR | OLB | Johnson C. Smith University | DII |
Tyler | Jenkins | SR | LB | Rowan University | DIII |
Takari | Johnson | SR | LB | Concordia Univeristy | NAIA |
Colin | Kimball | SR | FS | Mercyhurst University | DII |
Alex | Kocheff | JR | S | University of Mount Union | DIII |
Jared | Koster | SR | LB | New Mexico Highlands | DII |
Phil | Latimer | SR | DL | Nebraska Wesleyan University | NAIA |
Matt | Longacre | SR | DE | Northwest Missouri State | DII |
Caushaud | Lyons | SR | DE | Tusculum College | DII |
Keshaun | Malone | SR | MLB | Bacone College | NAIA |
Derrick | Mann | SR | DE | Assumption College | DII |
Alex | Markarian | SR | DE | Humboldt State University | DII |
Marcus | Martin | FR | DE | Slippery Rock University | DII |
Max | Nacewicz | SR | LB | Springfield College | DIII |
Bryan | Narcisse | SR | DE | Worcester State University | DIII |
Jack | Nelson | SR | ILB | Willamette University | DIII |
Trevor | Pesek | SR | DB | Texas A&M-Kingsville | DII |
Ty | Phillips | SR | DE | Missouri Valley College | NAIA |
Cole | Potter | SO | DE | Dakota State University (S.D.) | NAIA |
Nadim | Raddar | JR | DE | Bethany College | DIII |
CJ | Roberts | SR | CB | CSU - Peublo | DII |
Brion | Robinson | JR | S | The Lincoln University of PA | DII |
Adam | Sauder | JR | SS | Taylor University | NAIA |
Zac | Schlueger | JR | MLB | Morningside College | NAIA |
Rush | Seaver | SR | LB | Angelo State | DII |
Al-Hajj | Shabazz | SR | DB | West Chester University (Pa.) | DII |
Jordan | Shaw | JR | S | Shorter University | DII |
Justin | Shirk | SR | MLB | Bloomsburg University | DII |
Grant | Singer | SR | LB | University of Mary | DII |
Loronza | Smith | SO | LB | Warner University | NAIA |
Andrew | Stewart | SR | LB | Kentucky Christian University | NAIA |
Jason | Taylor | SR | LB | Catawba College | DII |
David | Ternes | SR | LB | Grinnell College | DIII |
Bryan | Thomson | SR | DL | East Stroudsburg University | DII |
Tyler | Thornton | SR | FS | Azusa Pacific University | DII |
Charles | Tuaau | SR | DL | Texas A&M Commerce | DII |
Billy | Wendt | SR | ILB | Graceland University | NAIA |
Ronell | Williams | SR | LB | West Chester University | DII |
Gary | Yeoman | SR | LB | Saint Joseph's (IN) | DII |
Jacob | Zilbar | SR | ILB | University of Wisconsin - Platteville | DIII |
Justin | Zimmer | JR | DE | Ferris State University | DII |
