LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Harding senior linebacker Clark Griffin has been named a finalist for the 2025 Cliff Harris Award, the Little Rock Touchdown Club announced Friday.

The award is presented annually to the nation's top small college defensive player representing more than 5,000 defensive players from almost 500 NCAA Division II, Division III, and NAIA colleges and universities.

Griffin is one of 18 finalists selected from NCAA Division II. The winner will be announced Monday, Jan. 19.

A native of Mountain Brook, Alabama, Griffin anchored a Harding defense that led the nation in scoring defense (10.8 points per game) and helped power the Bisons to a 15-1 record and an appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championship game.

Griffin's 2025 campaign was historic. He set a new Harding NCAA-era single-season record with 163 tackles, the most by any player in the NCAA this season. He finished his career with 439 tackles, the second-most in program history and the most in the NCAA era. He also holds the school's NCAA-era record for career tackles for loss with 45.5.

The Great American Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Griffin has already been named a First Team All-American by the AFCA, D2CCA and D2Football.com, and a Second Team All-American by the Associated Press and Don Hansen.

Griffin is joined on the finalist list by several other standout defenders from across Division II, including Harlon Hill finalist Tristan Exline (UT Permian Basin) and sack leader Michael Shimek (Ashland).

The award is named in honor of Cliff Harris, a former Ouachita Baptist University standout who went on to play in five Super Bowls and six Pro Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys.

2025 Cliff Harris Award – Division II Finalists

• Landon Boss, LB, Emporia State

• Ja'Kobe Clinton, LB, West Florida

• Domonique Davis II, LB, Central State

• Isi Etute, DE, UNC-Pembroke

• Tristan Exline, LB, UT Permian Basin

• Kalen Frazier, DB, Indiana (Pa.)

• Ricky Freymond, DE, Western Colorado

• Kenyon Garner, DE, Livingstone

• Clark Griffin, LB, Harding

• Brandon Hile, LB, Kutztown

• Tyler King, DL, Central Washington

• Logan O'Brien, LB, Chadron State

• Justin Payoute, DB, Ferris State

• Clayton Power, DL, Northwest Missouri State

• Ean Rhea, DL, Emory & Henry

• Michael Shimek, DE, Ashland

• Xavier Walton, S, Angelo State

• Tindell Frick, DL, Assumption