ANGOLA, IND.-- Trine's Ryan Hogan has been named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, the Little Rock Touchdown Club and Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP announced Thursday.
Hogan (Vine Grove, Ky./Meade County) is one of 70 finalists from NCAA Division II, III, and NAIA schools for the award, which is presented to the nation's top small college defensive player. The finalist list includes 38 Division II players, 18 Division III players, and 14 players from NAIA institutions. An overall winner will be announced Dec. 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.
Hogan set Trine's single-season record with 11 sacks this season, and concluded his career as the school's all-time leader with 20 career sacks. His sack total tied for ninth in the nation during the regular-season. The defensive end was named to the D3Football.com All-North Region Third Team, and was a First-Team All-MIAA performer.
The senior notched 65 tackles, including 26 solo stops on the season. He recorded 18.5 tackles for loss, and recovered three fumbles. Hogan earned a trip to the National Bowl, where he competed in front of pro scouts alongside some of the top small-school talent in the nation.
A prestigious group of former college and pro football greats serve on the Cliff Harris Award Committee. The committee includes Roger Staubach, Lee Roy Jordan, Walt Garrison, Gene Stallings, Jackie Smith, Drew Pearson, Rayfield Wright, Everson Walls, Charlie Waters, Bill Bates, Gil Brandt, Mel Renfro, Jim Hart, and Cliff Harris.
The inaugural winner of the award was Lindenwood University cornerback Pierre Desir, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Ten Percent of the 2013 Cliff Harris Award finalists made NFL rosters this season.
Cliff Harris journeyed from an overlooked high school player from Des Arc, Ark., and one scholarship offer to then-NAIA Ouachita Baptist University to five Super Bowls and six Pro Bowl appearances with the Dallas Cowboys.