ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Announced on Saturday, Dec. 23, Dakari Streeter is a finalist for the 2023 Cliff Harris Award.

Griffon Football's senior defensive lineman joins 35 other candidates who are considered the best defensive players in all of NCAA Division II. Streeter's nomination for this award was announced on Wednesday, Dec. 30.

Named as Missouri Western State's first-ever MIAA Defensive Player of the Year earlier this November, he led the conference with 12.5 sacks, tying him for third-most in DII. His 18.5 career sacks rank him sixth in program history. He joins Michael Jordan from 2015 as MWSU's second-ever finalist for the award.

This year's finalists represent a talented group from various institutions across the nation, featuring All-Americans and Conference Players of the Year for 2023. 

"This year's group of finalists is one of the most talented and accomplished we've ever seen," said Cliff Harris, the award's namesake. "It will be challenging to narrow this down to a single individual after reviewing the sensational seasons these players just finished." 

2023 CLIFF HARRIS CANDIDATES

1. Jamae Blank – JR – UNC-Pembroke 
2. Jayden Broughton – JR – Benedict College 
3. Peyton Buckley – JR – Augustana (SD) University 
4. Garrett Cox – JR – Millersville (Pa.) University 
5. Micah Cretsinger – JR – Saginaw Valley State University 
6. Loobert Denelus – SR – Benedict College 
7. Dioh Desuah – SR – Seton Hill University 
8. Willie Drew – SR – Virginia State 
9. Nick Evans – SR – University of Charleston (W.Va.) 
10. Marquise Fleming – JR – Wingate University 
11. Marcus Hansen – SO – Bemidji State 
12. Robert Holtz – SR – Tiffin University 
13. Landon Honeycutt – SO – Mars Hill University 
14. Giye Jenkins – JR – University of New Haven 
15. Josiah Johnson – JR – Ouachita Baptist University 
16. Hayden Kelly – SR – University of Texas Permian Basin 
17. Mikael King – SO – Tuskegee (Ala.) University 
18. Maven Kretche – JR – Minnesota State-Mankato 
19. Gary Lewis – SO – Henderson State University 
20. Salvatore Lupoli Jr – JR – Bentley (Mass.) University 
21. Landry Mavungu – SR – University of Indianapolis 
22. Christian McCarroll – SR – Grand Valley State 
23. John McMullen – SR – University of West Florida 
24. Eddie Miller Garrett – SR – Ohio Dominican 
25. Rossy Moore – JR – University of Mount Union 
26. Rico Payton – SR – Pittsburg State University 
27. Andrew Pitts – SO – Angelo State University 
28. Nolan Reeve – SR – Colorado School of Mines 
29. Cam Rice – SO – West Liberty University 
30. Clay Schueffner – SR – Winona State University 
31. Melvin Smith Jr – JR – Southern Arkansas University 
32. Shon Stephens – SR – Ferris State University 
33. Dakari Streeter – SR – Missouri Western State University 
34. Tanner Volk – JR – Central Washington 
35. Nathaniel Wallace – SR – Harding University 
36. Tyler Whary – SR – Kutztown University 

These exceptional athletes have demonstrated outstanding performance and commitment to their teams throughout the season, embodying the spirit of the Cliff Harris Award. The winner for DII will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 28, at noon Central Time. 

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