Franklin's Bryan nominated for defensive award

Thursday, November 26, 2015
Nate Bryan

FRANKLIN -- Franklin College senior defensive lineman Nate Bryan, a North Putnam graduate, has been selected a semifinalist for the 2015 Cliff Harris Award, presented by the Little Rock Touchdown Club and Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP to the nation's top small college defensive player.

More than 5,000 defensive players from almost 500 NCAA Division II, III and NAIA colleges and universities were eligible to be nominated. The award highlights the accomplishments of Harris, who played at NAIA Ouachita Baptist University before appearing in five Super Bowls and six Pro Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League.

Bryan earned first-team All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) honors in 2015 after leading the Grizzlies with 15.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 quarterback sacks.

The defensive tackle ranked fourth on the team with 50 tackles, and was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week on three occasions this fall.

Franklin posted an 8-3 record and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the eighth time in the past nine seasons, including six straight years in which the team captured HCAC championships.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: