ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Griffon Football's first-ever MIAA Defensive Player of the Year is in the running for yet another national honor: the Cliff Harris Award.

Announced on Wednesday, Dec. 20, senior defensive lineman Dakari Streeter is one of 48 nominees up for the 2023 Cliff Harris Award. This prestigious accolade is given to the best defensive player in NCAA Division II.

Grabbing the torch from former Griffon DJ Stirgus to represent Missouri Western State in the Cliff Harris Award nominee pool for a second consecutive season, Streeter is coming off his own career year. Named an Associated Press and a D2CCA All-America Second Team selection, Streeter finished 2023 with 12.5 sacks, the most in the MIAA. Not only did that tie him for third in DII, but it marks the third-most sacks in Griffon single-season history.

With 18.5 career sacks, Streeter ranks sixth in program history. After leading the MIAA in tackles for a loss with 14 stops in the backfield, he was named to the All-MIAA First Team and Super Region 3 Second Team. Thanks to a terrific season that terrorized offensive linemen across the conference, Streeter finished fourth out of eight finalists for the 2023 Gene Upshaw Award.

MORE ON THE CLIFF HARRIS AWARD
The Cliff Harris Award is an annual recognition program dedicated to celebrating exceptional defensive players in small college football. Named after NFL Hall of Famer Cliff Harris, the award acknowledges players who exhibit excellence on and off the field.

The recipient of the 2023 Cliff Harris Award for NCAA Division II will be announced on December 28th, 2023, recognizing one exceptional player for their outstanding contributions.

CLIFF HARRIS CANDIDATES

1. Isaiah Bigby (JR) – Minot State University
2. Benari Black (JR) – Johnson C. Smith University
3. Jamae Blank (JR) – UNC-Pembroke
4. Daniel Bone III (JR) – Colorado State University Pueblo
5. Jayden Broughton (JR) – Benedict College
6. Peyton Buckley (JR) – Augustana (SD) University
7. Amos Coleman (SR) – Texas A&M-Kingsville
8. Garrett Cox (JR) – Millersville (Pa.) University
9. Micah Cretsinger (JR) – Saginaw Valley State University
10. Aaron Davis (SO) – Wheeling University 
11. Loobert Denelus (SR) – Benedict College
12. Dioh Desuah (SR) – Seton Hill University
13. Willie Drew (SR) – Virginia State
14. Nick Evans (SR) – University of Charleston (W.Va.)
15. Marquise Fleming (JR) – Wingate University
16. Marcus Hansen (SO) – Bemidji State
17. Jacob Harris (SR) – Valdosta State
18. Robert Holtz (SR) – Tiffin University
19. Landon Honeycutt (SO) – Mars Hill University
20. Andre Jefferson (JR) – Lenoir-Rhyne University
21. Giye Jenkins (JR) – University of New Haven
22. Josiah Johnson (JR) – Ouachita Baptist University
23. Jalen Jones (SR) – West Virginia State University
24. Hayden Kelly (SR) – University of Texas Permian Basin
25. Mikael King (SO) – Tuskegee (Ala.) University
26. Maven Kretche (JR) – Minnesota State-Mankato
27. Gary Lewis (SO) – Henderson State University
28. Salvatore Lupoli Jr (JR) – Bentley (Mass.) University
29. Landry Mavungu (SR) – University of Indianapolis
30. Christian McCarroll (SR) – Grand Valley State
31. John McMullen (SR) – University of West Florida
32. Eddie Miller Garrett (SR) – Ohio Dominican
33. Rossy Moore (JR) – University of Mount Union
34. Jackson Myers (SR) – Ashland University
35. Connor Noble (JR) – West Chester University (Pa.)
36. Rico Payton (SR) – Pittsburg State University
37. Andrew Pitts (SO) – Angelo State University
38. Nolan Reeve (SR) – Colorado School of Mines
39. Cam Rice (SO) – West Liberty University
40. Devon Roush (SR) – East Central (Okla.)
41. Clay Schueffner (SR) – Winona State University
42. Melvin Smith Jr (JR) – Southern Arkansas University
43. Shon Stephens (SR) – Ferris State University
44. Dakari Streeter (SR) – Missouri Western State University
45. David Tabakovic (SR) – Quincy University (IL)
46. Tanner Volk (JR) – Central Washington
47. Nathaniel Wallace (SR) – Harding University
48. Tyler Whary (SR) – Kutztown University

The Trophy: 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 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.

Over the last decade, many of the finalists and winners have continued their outstanding football careers in the National Football League.

• Pierre Desir (Lindenwood, winner '13)
• Malcom Butler (West Alabama, finalist '13)
• Marqui Christian (Midwestern State, winner '15)
• Matthew Judon (Grand Valley State, finalist '15)
• Michael Joeseph (Dubuque, winner '17)
• Corey Ballentine (Washburn, winner '18)
• Kyle Duggar (Lenoir-Rhyne, winner '19)
• Sam Roberts (Northwest Missouri State, winner '21)
• Caleb Murphy (Ferris State, winner '22)

For more information about the Cliff Harris Award and to stay updated on the latest news and developments, please visit https://www.cliffharrisaward.com/.

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