Tuesday, December 24, 2019

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Two of the GNAC’s top defensive players are among the top defensive players in the country with Central Washington senior defensive lineman Billy Greer and Western Oregon junior defensive lineman Blayne Burnett have been named as finalists for the Cliff Harris Award.

The award is presented annually to the top defensive player in the country at the NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA levels. Greer and Burnett are among 35 Division II players to be named as finalists for the award, which will be announced by the Little Rock Touchdown Club on December 27.

Greer, the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, was a potent force on a solid Central Washington defensive line that led the GNAC in pass defense, sacks and interceptions. Greer finished with 41 tackles, 20 of those solo tackles, with three forced fumbles and five quarterback hurries. He led the GNAC with seven sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss and ranked 48th in Division II with 0.70 sacks per game. Greer anchored a defense that allowed opponents 399 yards per game as the Wildcats finished with a 7-4 overall record and winning a share of the program’s second consecutive GNAC championship.

Burnett, the GNAC Defensive Lineman of the Year, finished with 41 tackles, four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks while leading the Wolves with eight quarterback hurries. He led a WOU defensive line that was second in the GNAC in red zone defense and forced 19 turnovers.

Defensively, Western Oregon led the GNAC in total defense (359.4 yards allowed per game), scoring defense (27.5 points allowed per game) and rushing defense (242.9 yards allowed per game) and was ranked fourth in Division II in punt return defense, allowing 1.11 yards per return. Western Oregon also finished with a 7-4 overall record and earned a share of the program’s first-ever GNAC championship.