Adam Dansdill named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award

Wheaton, Ill. - Wheaton senior linebacker Adam Dansdill has been named as a finalist for the 2015 Cliff Harris Award, which is given to the nation's top small college defensive player. The finalists are chosen from over 5,000 defensive players representing over 500 NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA institutions. Dansdill is one of only 18 finalists from Division III institutions. He was the only nominee from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and the CCIW's first nominee in the three-year history of the award.

Finalists for the award were chosen by a prestigous selection committee including Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach. The winner will be announced on December 24 and honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club's annual awards banquet in February of 2016.

Dansdill is the two-time CCIW Defensive Player of the Year, making him the fifth player in league history to win the award twice, joining Jim Perryman of Millikin (1981-82); Chad Thorson from Wheaton (1988-89); Rusty VanWetzinga of Augustana (1994-95) and Illinois Wesleyan's John Munch (1996-97). Dansdill lead Wheaton with 115 total tackles this season, including 55 solo stops. He has recorded 14 tackles for loss (-48 yards) with five passes broken-up this season. Dansdill ranked second in the CCIW in total tackles this season with 67 stops in conference play. He also ranked eighth in the CCIW in tackles for lost yards with eight (-31 yards) in conference play.

The senior linebacker finished his career with 318 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, six sacks, 22 pass breakups, four interceptions including two returned for touchdowns, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two blocked kicks.

Originally published by Wheaton College Athletics: /news/2015/12/17/FB_1217151346.aspx