Complete List of 2018 Cliff Harris Award Finalists

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – The Little Rock Touchdown Club and Wright Lindsey Jennings announced the finalists for the sixth annual Cliff Harris Award which included Bethel University's standout defensive end Kyle Kilgore. The award is presented 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. An overall winner will be announced on December 24th and honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club's annual awards banquet on January 10, 2019. The winner will receive the $3,000 Cliff Harris Award trophy presented by Cliff Harris. In addition to the overall winner, the top vote getters from each division will also be announced. A prestigious group of former college and pro football greats serve on the Cliff Harris Award Committee.

Kilgore had an exceptional senior season for the Royals, earning a multitude of honors for his dominant play. Included in those honors was AFCA Second Team All-American, MIAC First Team All-Conference (two-time recipient), D3football.com Third Team All-West Region (two-time recipient), D3football.com Honorable Mention All-America, MIAC Defensive Player of the Week, and AFCA Allstate Good Works Team member. 

Kilgore led the MIAC and was fourth in all of NCAA DIII with 15 sacks on the season. His 65 total tackles also ranked in the top 20 in the league at 17^th. Kilgore was the MIAC Defensive Player of the Week in the final week of the regular season after registering eight tackles, including one tackle for loss, half-a-sack, a batted pass and coming up with perhaps the biggest play in the game when he blocked a punt early in the fourth quarter resulting in a Bethel touchdown in the Royals 21-15 victory over St. Thomas, putting Bethel into the NCAA Playoffs.
 
The Tommie game was just a small preview of what kind of a treat Royals fans where in for from Kilgore in the NCAA Playoffs. In three games, with all three coming against opposing quarterbacks who were their conferences Offensive MVP's, and two of which who were Gagliardi Trophy semifinalists, Kilgore totaled seven sacks – the most in the NCAA DIII playoffs. In those three playoff games he totaled 20 tackles, an incredible 18 of which were solo, to go along with eight and a half tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. The constant pressure from Kilgore and the rest of the Royals resulted in a combined completion percentage of just 47% for those three quarterbacks who completed nearly 70% of their passes during the year.
 
The Cliff Harris Award selection committee includes football icons 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 the awards namesake Cliff Harris. A five time Super Bowl safety and six tim Pro Bowler, Harris played at Ouachita Baptist University in the late 1960's before starring for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970's. Harris had this to say about the award:
 

"I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to recognize the most outstanding defensive players from small colleges across the country. As a small college player myself, I always understood that recognition and respect for outstanding play was more difficult to attain compared to players from larger schools. Because of this I relied on perserverance and mental toughness to help me play my best even when it wasn't recognized. This enabled me to succeed at every level including the NFL and five Super Bowls. I'm honored that this award looks to recognize those players that may not receive the acknowledgement and accolades deserved because they represent small colleges. My hope is that the award will provide these players with added confidence and the appropriate distinction of being one of the best defensive players in the country regardless of the level of football they play."

"I'm proud to represent youth, high school and small college football in Arkansas and have tremendous memories of my time spent in Hot Springs, Des Arc and at Ouachita Baptist University. I'm also extremely proud of my time spent with the Dallas Cowboys and to have such an amazing selection committee representing some of the greatest players and coaches in the history of the game. I want to thank the Little Rock Touchdown Club, my friends and family and the people of Arkansas for their support in honoring through this award, the best defensive players from small colleges across the nation."

Royals fans should be sure to watch the upcoming Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 1st where Kilgore will be part of the halftime festivities as the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team will be honored and shown at halftime on the ESPN broadcast. The 85th edition of the Sugar Bowl kicks off at 7:45pm and pits the Texas Longhorns against the Georgia Bulldogs.