LITTLE ROCK, ARK.  --  Trine University senior football player Marcus Winters (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) will be one of several NCAA Division III nominations for the annual Cliff Harris Award which is presented to the nation's top small college defensive player at the NCAA Division II, III and NAIA levels.

Winters was tabbed as a finalist for the award last season as a junior.  Finalists for the 2018 award will be released in one week and the Cliff Harris Award Winner will be announced on Dec. 24 and honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club's annual awards banquet on Jan. 10, 2019.  

Winters, who was named the MIAA Defensive "Most Valuable Player" for the second straight season in 2018, was part of a defense that ranked 11th in NCAA Division III in passing yards allowed per game at 147.5.  Individually, Winters ended his senior campaign with 33 total tackles (24 solo and nine assists) and had three interceptions to go along with a blocked kick that came on an extra point attempt.  Winters also etched his name in the Trine record books as the program's all-time leader in interceptions with 21 for his career. 

Winters was also a threat on special teams, as a punt returner with two punt returns for touchdowns and averaged 23.4 yards per return.  He ends his career with three program all-time marks in punt return yardage with 622, return average (18.85 yards per return) and returns for TD with four.

In addition to being named the MIAA Defensive "MVP," Winters has also garnered first-team All-MIAA honors for the third time in his career as well as D3football.com All-North Region accolades the past three seasons (2018 1st-team, 2017 2nd-team & 2016 3rd-team).

For more information about the Cliff Harris Award and a full list of the 2018 nominees, please visit http://cliffharrisaward.com