Frazier nominated for defensive player of the year award

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Simpson's Isaac Frazier was recently nominated for the fourth annual CLIFF HARRIS AWARD, which is presented to the nation's top small college defensive player.

The senior defensive end from Marion, Iowa is among 60 nominees from Division III. The award represents more than 5,000 defensive players from almost 500 NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA colleges and universities. A prestigious selection committee made up of former college and pro football greats will select the winner. In addition to the CLIFF HARRIS AWARD overall winner, the top vote getter from each division will also be announced. 

Frazier led the Iowa Conference with 10.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2016, earning first team all-conference honors for the second straight season. He was also named to the D3football.com All-West Region First Team, just the fourth player in school history to earn the distinction.

Finalists for the 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. 19, 2017. The winner will receive the $3,000 CLIFF HARRIS AWARD trophy presented by Cliff Harris along with featured speaker, Archie Manning. 

The award is named after former NFL safety Cliff Harris, whose journey took him from an overlooked high school player from Arkansas offer to then NAIA Ouachita Baptist University to five Super Bowls and six Pro Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys.