LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Redshirt sophomore defensive end Marcus Hansen was named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award. The Cliff Harris Award recognizes exceptional defensive players in small college football.
A list of 48 were nominated and trimmed down to 36 finalists with the winner being announced on Thursday, December 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 stops. 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 4 squad.
One of the most unique awards in all of college football, the $3,000 Cliff Harris Award trophy stands almost two foot 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 Fame and Dallas Cowboy great Cliff Harris, against Harold Jackson of the Los Angeles Rams. What makes this trophy truly exceptional is its intricate design, showcasing extreme angles and attachment points that secure the two bronze players to a three-tier walnut wood base, setting it apart from any other trophy in all levels of college football. Crafted from fourteen distinct bronze pieces, its assembly process ranks among the most intricate and complex in sports awards. Every winner from DII, DIII and NAIA will receive their own Cliff Harris Award trophy. Sculpted by Raymond Gibby and designed by David Bazzel, this trophy embodies excellence in both craftsmanship and football achievement.
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Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, BSU sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
