LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Trine's Marcus Winters and Me'Leick Miles have been named candidates for the fourth annual 2016 Cliff Harris Award, The Little Rock Touchdown Club and Wright, Lindsey and Jennings announced.
Winters (Toledo, Ohio / Central Catholic) and Miles (Indianapolis, Ind. / Pike) are in the running for the award after posting strong seasons for the Thunder defense . The Cliff Harris Award is presented to the nation's best small-college defensive player from NCAA Division II, III and NAIA. A selection committee made up of former college and pro football greats will select the winner. Finalists for the award will be announced in two weeks, with the winner set to be announced Dec. 24.
Winters earned All-MIAA First Team honors for the first time this season after tying a school record with eight interceptions. The sophomore ranked second in the nation in INTs during the regular season and was third in the country with 19 passes defended. The two-time all-conference performer also forced a fumble, recorded a pass break-up and returned a punt for a touchdown this year.
In just two seasons, Winters is already cementing his place in Trine's record books. He is tied for third in program history with 12 career interceptions. He also ranks fifth all-time in passes defended (28) and seventh in interception return yards (86).
Miles earned All-MIAA Second Team honors for the second consecutive season. The junior finished sixth in the conference with 79 tackles while playing defensive line. His 16 tackles-for-loss were fourth in the league, while his 6.5 sacks were sixth-most in the conference. Miles also blocked two kicks, one of which was a punt he returned for a touchdown at Aurora. He earned recognition on the D3football.com Team of the Week and received MIAA Defensive Player of the Week honors during the season.
Miles is also moving up the career charts at Trine. He has blocked seven kicks in his career, the second-most in program history. Miles is also tied for sixth in career sacks (14) and is seventh all-time in tackles-for-loss (28).
The Cliff Harris Award winner will be honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club's annual awards banquet on Jan. 19, 2017. The winner will receive the $3,000 Cliff Harris Award trophy presented by Cliff Harris along with featured speaker Archie Manning.
Cliff Harris journeyed from being 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.
