Bemidji State's Marcus Hansen named a finalist for Cliff Harris Award
Dec. 24—LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Bemidji State football redshirt sophomore defensive end Marcus Hansen has been named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award. The award recognizes exceptional defensive players in small college football.
A list of 48 players was nominated and trimmed down to 36 finalists. The winner will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 28.
Hansen, the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year, led the conference in tackles for loss and sacks during the regular season. He started all 12 games and finished with 19 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, along with 51 tackles (31 solo).
Hansen forced three fumbles and had eight quarterback hurries. Hansen had a tackle for loss in 11 games, with multiple tackles for loss in six games with a high of four. He added a sack in seven games. He was recently selected to the AP All-America Second Team, along with the First Team D2CCA All-Super Region Four squad.
One of the most unique awards in all of college football, the $3,000 Cliff Harris Award trophy stands almost two feet tall and weighs 35 pounds. A rare two-figurine sports action bronze sculpture, the Cliff Harris Award represents an actual tackle by NFL Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboys great Cliff Harris against Harold Jackson of the Los Angeles Rams.
