Chase Greenlee named as a finalist for the 2017 Cliff Harris Award

Wheaton, Ill. - Wheaton senior defensive end Chase Greenlee has been named as a finalist for the 2017 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 more than 500 NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA institutions.

Greenlee is one of only 29 finalists from Division III institutions and was the only nominee. He is the third-consecutive Wheaton player to be named as a finalist for the award in its five-year history joining Adam Dansdill (2015) and Caleb Ashby (2016). Wheaton is one of only three Division III teams to have three different players named as a finalist in three-consecutive years since the award's inception in 2013.

The winner will be announced on December 23 and honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club's annual awards banquet January 11, 2018. The winner will receive the Cliff Harris Award and the top vote getters from each division will also be announced.

Greenlee has earned First All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA); Second Team All-America recognition from the Associated Press and Third Team honors from D3football.com earlier this month. He led Wheaton with 21.5 tackles for lost yardage (-98 yards) in 2017, including 15.5 sacks (-86 yards). Greenlee's 15.5 sacks is the third-highest single-season total in school history and ranked second this year in Division III. He ranked fourth among Wheaton's defensive players this season with 45 total tackles (28 solo). His 14-1/2 sacks (-83 yards) in CCIW play led the conference.

In three seasons with the Thunder, Greenlee recorded 138 total tackles, including 77 solo stops. He tallied 31.5 career sacks, a mark that is second in program history. His 31.5 career sacks is second, behind only Jeff Peltz's (1977-80) school record of 37 career sacks. HIs five sacks in this year's regular season finale at Carroll is tied for the seventh-highest single-game total in Division III history.

Originally published by Wheaton College Athletics: /news/2017/12/20/football-chase-greenlee-named-as-a-finalist-for-the-2017-cliff-harris-award.aspx