ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — From the All-MIAA First Team to MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, Griffon Football senior defensive lineman Dakari Streeter is now a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award.

Streeter was selected as a finalist on Monday afternoon thanks to his 12.5 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss in the regular season. The Griffon senior finished with 32 tackles, totaling 16 solo stops and 16 assists. A native of Bridgeton, Missouri, Streeter emerged out of Super Region Three alongside Grand Valley State defensive end Christian McCarroll. 

Streeter is just the second-ever Griffon finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award, joining Missouri Western Hall of Famer Davis Bass, who made the finals in 2012. Despite not playing since Nov. 11, Streeter's sack total of 12.5 still ranks first in the conference and is tied for second in all of Division II. His 80 sack yards rank fifth in DII and first in the MIAA. Streeter's 14 TFLs rank first in the conference and 17th in the country.

With 18.5 career sacks, Streeter is currently sixth all-time in program history. His 12.5 sacks are a single-campaign career high for him and are the third most in MWSU single-season history. He played all 11 games this season, averaging 1.14 sacks per contest, the fourth-best average in the nation. The Griffons finished the regular season 8-3 and 7-3 in the MIAA.

MORE ON THE GENE UPSHAW AWARD
Originally a list of 29 nominated, that was trimmed to eight with two finalists named from each of the four Super Regions. The winner will be announced Dec. 4. All nominees must be seniors or graduate players/transfers and are lineman on either side of the ball at either offensive tackle, guard, or center; or defensive tackle, guard or end.

The award is named in honor of the late Mr. Upshaw, who was not only an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders, but later served as the executive director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years. Upshaw, a former standout offensive lineman at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M-Kingsville), was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 in his first year of eligibility. The award is presented annually by the Manheim Touchdown Club.