Ferris State’s Caleb Murphy Named as National Finalist for Cliff Harris Award

BIG RAPIDS – Ferris State football sophomore defensive end Caleb Murphy was named as a national finalist for the 2021 Cliff Harris Award as the nation’s small college defensive player of the year on Monday.

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.

Murphy was also chosen this season as the GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year and led the Bulldogs defensively with 14.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss this season, ranking among the nation’s best in both categories.

He also finished the year with five forced fumbles and totaled 63 stops, including 30 solo tackles.

The Bulldogs finished the year with a perfect 14-0 record, beating Valdosta State 58-17 in the national championship game on Dec. 18 in McKinney, Texas. FSU also won a third consecutive GLIAC Championship this year.

An overall winner will be announced on December 28 and honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club’s annual awards banquet on January 14, 2022 with featured speaker Joe Theismann.

The winner will receive the $3,000 Cliff Harris Award trophy presented by Cliff Harris.