The Cliff Harris Award was launched in 2013 and has been presented annually to the top defensive players in the small college football classifications of NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. The award is named after Cliff Harris, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and former standout defensive back at Ouachita Baptist University from 1966-1969. The selection committee for the award includes NFL and College Football Hall of Famers, multiple Super Bowl Champions, a Heisman Trophy Winner, NFL MVP and a national championhip head coach. The award is presented by the Little Rock Touchdown Club of Little Rock, Arkansas. 

Nominees are considered after the completion of football season with finalists announced in late December or early January. The winners are announced shortly after. All three winners from Division II, Division III and NAIA will be honored at a special event in Arlington, Texas in the spring.  

Past winners from NCAA Division II:

2023: Tanner Volk, DB, Central Washington

2022: Caleb Murphy, DL, Ferris State

2021: Sam Roberts, DL, Northwest Missouri State

2020: No award presented (COVID) 

2019: Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne

2018: Corey Ballentine, DB, Washburn

2017:  (tie) Marcus Martin, DL, Slippery Rock, Nathan Shepherd, DL, Fort Hays State

2016: Connor Harris, LB, Lindenwood

2015: Marqui Christian, S, Midwestern State

2014: Darius Allen, DL, CSU Pueblo

2013: Pierre Desir, DB, Lindenwood