Ayers Listed As Cliff Harris Award Nominee

As announced by the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Friday (Dec. 17) afternoon, Ashland University junior linebacker Michael Ayers is a nominee for the 2021 Cliff Harris Award, presented to the nation's top small college defensive player.
 
This past season, Ayers finished first on the Eagles in total tackles (100), solo tackles (52), assists (48), tackles for loss (12) and forced fumbles (two), and added three sacks and a fumble recovery. In the last six games of the season, Ayers racked up 72 total stops, 10½ for loss and two sacks.
 
Earlier this offseason, Ayers landed first-team 2021 Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Super Region 1 honors, was named Great Midwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and was first-team All-Great Midwest.
 
Finalists for the 2021 Cliff Harris Award will be released later this month, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 28, and honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club's annual awards banquet on Jan. 14. The winner will receive the $3,000 Cliff Harris Award trophy.
 
The award is named for Cliff Harris, a safety who played at then-NAIA Ouachita Baptist before winning playing in five Super Bowls and six Pro Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys.
 
Ashland football finished the 2021 season at 5-5, and has a streak of 14 consecutive seasons finishing at .500 or better (2007-19 and 2021).