Marcus Martin, who became the NCAA's all-time sack leader in 2017, is a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award.
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – The Little Rock Touchdown Club and Wright Lindsey Jennings announced the finalists for the fifth annual 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.
An overall winner will be announced on December 23 and honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club's annual awards banquet on January 11, 2018 featuring guest speaker Marcus Allen. The winner will receive the $3,000 Cliff Harris Award trophy presented by Cliff Harris. 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.
For the story of Cliff Harris go to www.CliffHarrisAward.com and read about his amazing journey from overlooked high school player from tiny Des Arc, Arkansas, and one scholarship offer to then-NAIA Ouachita Baptist University to five Super Bowls and six Pro Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys.
Division II Finalists
| Player Name | Class | College | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Benson | SR | Assumption College | DB |
| Adonis Davis | JR | Florida Tech | DL |
| Dennis Gardeck | SR | Sioux Falls | LB |
| Sterling Hammond | SR | Virginia Union | DB |
| Kevin Haynes | SR | Central Washington University | LB |
| Myle Humphrey | SR | Shepherd University | DL |
| Chris Johnson | JR | University of North Alabama | DB |
| Marcus Jones | SR | NW Missouri State | DB |
| Markus Jones | JR | Angelo State | DL |
| Kyle Kitchens | SR | Catawba | LB |
| Davondrick Lison | JR | Southern Arkansas University | DL |
| Tevin Madison | SR | West Alabama | DB |
| Marcus Martin | SR | Slippery Rock University | DL |
| Tyler Morrissey | JR | West Chester | LB |
| Blake Nelson | SR | Colorado Mesa | DB |
| Brandon Payer | SO | Colorado State-Pueblo | LB |
| Evan Perrizo | SR | Minnesota State University, Mankato | DL |
| James Prater Jr. | JR | Ashland University | DL |
| Max Redfield | SR | Indiana University (Pa) | DB |
| Brucks Saathoff | JR | Texas A&M-Commerce | LB |
| Terry Samuel | JR | West Alabama | LB |
| Nathan Shepherd | SR | Fort Hays State University | DL |
| Zach Sieler | JR | Ferris State University | DL |
| Andrew Spencer | SR | Winona State | DB |
| Yusef Sterling-Lowe | SR | Texas A&M-Commerce | DB |
| Tavierre Thomas | SR | Ferris State | DB |
| Osband Thompson | SR | Tuskegee | LB |
| Landry Tullo | SR | Delta State University | LB |
| Austin Weltha | SR | McKendree University | LB |
| Darius Williams | JR | Colorado State University-Pueblo | DB |
