Little Rock, Ark. - Senior defensive linemen Will Miles has been nominated for the eighth annual Cliff Harris Award, as announced by The Little Rock Touchdown Club and Wright Lindsey Jennings, LLP. 

The award is presented to the nation's top small college defensive player representing more than 5,000 defensive players from almost 500 NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA colleges and universities.

Miles is just one 28 players from the NAIA and one of four from the Heart of America Athletic Conference to earn a nomination, joining Devin Adams of Peru State, BJ Harvey of Baker, and Benedictine's Jalen James.

In 2021, Miles was tabbed as an NAIA All-American for the first time in his career. The Chicago, Ill. native appeared in all 12 games for the Eagles, tallying 56 total tackles and a team-leading seven sacks. He also finished second on the team with 14 tackles for loss. Overall, Miles recorded three multi-sack games, highlighted by a two-sack, four tackles for loss performance against (RV) Culver-Stockton on Sept. 25.  

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.

Finalists for the award will be released in one week. The Cliff Harris winner will be announced on Dec. 28, and honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club's annual awards banquet on Jan. 14, 2022. The winner will receive the $3,000 Cliff Harris Award trophy presented by Cliff Harris along with featured speaker Joe Theismann. 

To view the full release of the 2021 Cliff Harris Award nominees, please click here. 

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