The Cliff Harris Award, presented by the Little Rock Touchdown Club and generously sponsored by Wright, Lindsey, and Jennings LLP, is pleased to announce an exciting expansion of its recognition program for the 2023 season.

Named after NFL Hall of Famer Cliff Harris, the award recognizes the top small college defensive players of the year representing DII, DIII, and NAIA universities and colleges. While in previous years the award has recognized just one overall winner from the three small college divisions with the prestigious $3,000 Cliff Harris Award trophy, it is now set to honor the top player in all three divisions with Cliff Harris Award trophies.

"We are thrilled to expand the Cliff Harris Award to celebrate these exceptional defensive players individually throughout the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA football divisions," said Cliff Harris, the award’s namesake. "Making sure each division winner has our spectacular trophy is a testament to our commitment to recognizing and uplifting the
extraordinary talent that exists at every level of college football." 

Other additions to the 2023 Cliff Harris Award include expansion of selection committees, winner announcement dates, and locations.

In NCAA Division II, the winner will be handpicked by NFL Hall of Famer Cliff Harris, with the announcement set for Dec. 28, 2023. The winner in the NAIA is voted on by the NAIA All-American selection committee and will be announced during the Dec. 18 national championship game.

The Division III winner, chosen from 400 All-Region selections by the D3football.com staff, will be revealed during their broadcast of the D-III national championship game on Dec. 15.

"D3football.com is glad that the Cliff Harris Award will recognize the top defensive player in NCAA Division III football, and we are honored to have been given the opportunity to select the recipient," said Patrick Coleman, Executive Editor of D3sports.com. "We truly work for the love of the game, just like the Division III football players we have covered for 25 seasons, and any opportunity to help D-III student-athletes get recognized is something that we want to help make happen."

The finalists for the Division III Cliff Harris Award are as follows: Colin Meropoulos, DT, Endicott; Derek Slywka, S, Ithaca; Caleb Harmel, LB, Trinity (Texas); Rossy Moore, DE, Mount Union; Owen Grover, LB, Wartburg; Justin Blazek, DE, UW-Platteville.

The Cliff Harris Award trophy stands almost two feet tall and weighs 35 pounds. A rare two figurine sports action bronze sculpture, the Cliff Harris Award represents an actual tackle by NFL Hall of Fame and Dallas Cowboy great Cliff Harris, against Harold Jackson of the Los Angeles Rams. What makes this trophy truly exceptional is its intricate design, showcasing extreme angles and attachment points that secure the two bronze players to a three-tier walnut wood base, setting it apart from any other trophy in all levels of college football. Crafted from fourteen distinct bronze pieces, its assembly process ranks among the most intricate and complex in sports awards. Every winner from D-II, D-III and NAIA will receive their own Cliff Harris Award trophy.

Sculpted by Raymond Gibby and designed by David Bazzel, this trophy embodies excellence in both craftsmanship and football achievement.