Morningside’s Zac Schleuger is one of 70 national finalist for the 2014 Cliff Harris Award.

Zac Schleuger, a 6-2, 220 lb. junior linebacker from Wesley, Iowa, is one of 70 national finalists for the second annual Cliff Harris Award.

The award is presented by the Little Rock Touchdown Club to the nation’s top small college defensive player from almost 500 NCAA Division II, Division III, and NAIA colleges and universities. The award is named after Cliff Harris, who played his collegiate football at the NAIA level for Ouachita Baptist University and went to on play in five Super Bowls and six Pro Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys.

Schleuger was the leading tackler this season for a Morningside team that posted an 11-2 record, was co-champion of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), and reached the semifinals of the NAIA Championship Series. Schleuger had 46 solos and 68 assists for 114 total tackles. He also led the Mustangs with 25.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage for losses of 76 yards and was Morningside’s co-leader with six quarterback hurries and two blocked kicks. Schleuger had five quarterback sacks, five pass breakups, and an interception.

The finalists for the Cliff Harris Award include 38 Division II players, 18 Division III players, and 14 NAIA players.

The winner will be announced on Dec. 24 and honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club’s annual awards banquet in February 2015.