2014 Cliff Harris Award Finalists Announced
December 12, 2014
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 from almost 500 NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA colleges and universities.
CLIFF HARRIS –
“There are numerous outstanding small college defensive players around the country and I’m glad we get to acknowledge them today as finalists for the 2014 Cliff Harris Award”
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.
Division II
| Player | Classification | School |
|---|---|---|
| Brion Robinson | Junior | The Lincoln University of PA |
| Duvontae Covington | Senior | Winston-Salem State University |
| Mike Singletary | Sr | OBU |
| Nores Fradi | Senior | Wayne State University |
| Billy Eakins | Junior | Ohio Dominican University |
| Justin Zimmer | Junior | Ferris State University |
| Jordan Herdman | Sophomore | Simon Fraser University |
| Devin Benton | Senior | Southwestern Oklahoma State University |
| Devin Benton | Senior | Southwestern Oklahoma State University |
| Darious Lane | Senior | Harding University |
| Kyle Lamothe | Senior | Ouachita Baptist University |
| Jamaris Brown | Senior | Walsh University |
| Gary Yeoman | Senior | Saint Joseph's (IN) |
| Lucky | Baar | McKendree University |
| Tyler Thornton | Senior | Azusa Pacific University |
| Tovar Sanchez | Junior | Central Washington University |
| Alex Markarian | Senior | Humboldt State University |
| Jordan Shaw | Junior | Shorter University |
| Rory Island | Senior | Delta State University |
| Mike James | Sophomore | Alderson Broaddus University |
| Rush Seaver | Senior | Angelo State |
| Trevor Pesek | R-Sr. | Texas A&M-Kingsville |
| Conner Harris | Sophmore | Lindenwood |
| WENLY BELIARD | 2015 | WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY |
| Tyler Condit | Junior | University of New Haven |
| Derrick Mann | Sr. | Assumption College |
| Solomon St. Pierre | Junior | University of Sioux Falls |
| Nathan Hancock | Senior | Minnesota State University, Mankato |
| Solomon St. Pierre | Junior | University of Sioux Falls |
| Josh Gordon | Junior | Minnesota State Mankato |
| Al-Hajj Shabazz | Senior | West Chester University (Pa.) |
| Julian Howsare | Senior | Clarion University of PA |
| Bryan Thomson | Redshirt Senior | East Stroudsburg University |
| Colin Kimball | Senior | Mercyhurst University |
| Justin Shirk | Senior | Bloomsburg University |
| Marcus Martin | R-Fr. | Slippery Rock University |
| George Christas | Senior | Lock Haven University |
| Jared Koster | Senior | New Mexico Highlands University |
| Kole Kadavy | Sr. | Colorado School of Mines |
| Jared Koster | Senior | New Mexico Highlands |
| Michael Gruber | Sr. | Brevard College |
| Tanner Botts | Senior | Lenoir-Rhyne University |
| Michael Gruber | 2015 | Brevard College |
| Jason Taylor | Senior | Catawba College |
| Nick Napolitano | Senior | Wingate University |
| Caushaud Lyons | Senior | Tusculum College |
Division III
| Player | Classification | School |
|---|---|---|
| Earl Hines III | Senior | Sul Ross State University |
| Chris Tate | Tate | Sul Ross State University |
| Beau Brewer | Senior | Louisiana College |
| Steve Ambs | Junior | Ursinus College |
| Hugh O'Brien | Senior | SUNY Maritime College |
| Ryan Aelker | Junior | Bluffton University |
| Taylor Christensen | Sophomore | Franklin College |
| Jacob Edleman | Senior | Central College |
| Max Nacewicz | Senior | Springfield College |
| Tyre Coleman | Senior | Hobart College |
| Bryan Narcisse | Sr. | Worcester State University |
| Ryan Hogan | Sr. | Trine University |
| Brandon Harper | Senior | Widener University |
| Frank Gaffney | Senior | Lebanon Valley College |
| Austin Tennessee | Sophomore | Stevenson University |
| David Ternes | Sr. | Grinnell College |
| Jake Bussani | Grad Student | Wesleyan University |
| Chris Tamasi | Senior | Amherst College |
| Tyler Jenkins | Senior | Rowan University |
| Jack Nelson | Senior | Willamette University |
| Max Mirande | Senior | University of Puget Sound |
| Roth Healey | Senior | Emory & Henry College |
| Alex Kocheff | Junior | University of Mount Union |
| David Porter | Junior | John Carroll University |
| Nadim Raddar | Jr. | Bethany College (W. Va.) |
| Nadim Raddar | JR | Bethany College |
| Zach Bell | Senior | Millsaps College |
| Devon Freeman | Senior | Centre College |
| Nik Kelly | Freshman | Southwestern University (TX) |
| Drake Dowling | Junior | Texas Lutheran University |
| Brandon Bolock | Sr. | University of Chicago |
| Raul Lozano | SR | Iowa Wesleyan |
| Nate Daniels | JR | Iowa Wesleyan |
| Zach Brownell | Senior | Huntingdon College |
| Jacob Zilbar | Senior | University of Wisconsin-Platteville |
| Jacob Zilbar | Senior | University of Wisconsin - Platteville |
| Brady Grayvold | Senior | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater |
Division III
| Keshaun Malone | Senior | Bacone College |
| Sean Blomquist | Senior | Carroll College |
| Zac Schleuger | Junior | Morningside College |
| Greg Hegstad | Senior | Northwestern (Iowa) |
| Phil Latimer | Senior | Nebraska Wesleyan University |
| Zac Schlueger | Junior | Morningside College |
| Josh Montgomery | Senior | Benedictine College |
| Billy Wendt | SR | Graceland University |
| Ty Phillips | 2014 | Missouri Valley College |
| Ty Phillips | Senior | Missouri Valley College |
| Cameron Grad | 2015 | Menlo College |
| Deron Bruce | Sr. | Ottawa University |
| Andrew | Stewart | Kentucky Christian University |
| Jesse Hogan | SR | University of St. Francis (IL) |
| Takari Johnson | Senior | Concordia University |
| Takari Johnson | Senior | Concordia Univeristy |
| Brian | Fish | Olivet Nazarene University |
| Adam Sauder | Junior | Taylor University |
| Greg Hayward | Senior | Saint Xavier University |
| Brandon Ruemler | Senior | Olivet Nazarene University |
| Tyler Sumption | Senior | Presentation College |
| Cole Potter | Sophomore | Dakota State University (S.D.) |
| Loronza Smith | Sophomore | Warner University |
| Brandon Ross | Senior | Ave Maria University |