Friday, December 14, 2018

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Two of the top defensive players in the GNAC, Azusa Pacific senior linebacker Aaron Berry and Western Oregon senior linebacker Bo Highburger, have been named as finalists for the Cliff Harris Award.

The two are among 89 finalists for the award, which honors the nation’s top small college defensive football player with nominees selection from NCAA Division II and III and NAIA programs. The winner of the award will be announced on Dec. 24 and recognized during the Little Rock Touchdown Club’s annual awards banquet on Jan. 10. Berry and Highburger are among 31 Division II nominees for the award.

Berry, the GNAC’s 2018 Defensive Player of the Year, earned All-America honors from both the American Football Coaches Association and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association earlier in December. He finished second in the GNAC with 105 total tackles, which included 61 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and four sacks. He led the conference in tackles for loss and was in the Division II top-50 in total tackles, tackles for loss, fumbles forced and fumble recoveries.

Highburger earned his third First Team All-GNAC selection and was a D2CCA All-Super Region 4 Team selection. He finished the year with 100 total tackles, which included 63 solo tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He led the GNAC with 8.8 tackles per game, was second in tackles for loss and tied for third in sacks. Highburger finished the season ranked 21st in Division II in solo tackles and was in the Division II top-50 in forced fumbles, tackles for loss and total tackles.