Lindenwood football player Pierre Desir was named the inaugural winner of the Cliff Harris Award on Tuesday. The award is given to the Small College Defensive Player of the Year. Desir was chosen from a group of more than 5,000 athletes representing almost 500 NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA colleges and universities.

"It is truly an honor and a blessing to receive the Cliff Harris Award," Desir said. "I am grateful to receive this award, especially since there are so many great defensive players out there."

Desir was a three-time All-American and four-time all-conference performer during his college career, which saw him play two years at both Washburn and Lindenwood. He is the all-time MIAA leader in career passes defended with 52, and is second with 25 career interceptions.

In two years with Lindenwood, he intercepted 13 passes and record 30 passes defended. He earned AFCA All-American honors in both 2012 and 2013, and was a first-team All-MIAA selection both of those seasons. He led the MIAA in passes defended per game this year despite teams throwing away from him nearly 95 percent of the time. Desir was also a two-time member on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

The award is named in honor of former Dallas Cowboys great Cliff Harris. Harris, an Arkansas native, was offered only one college scholarship at then-NAIA Ouachita Baptist University. After college, Harris was passed over for the 1970 NFL Draft. Harris signed a free agent contract with the Cowboys and then helped Dallas to five Super Bowl appearances during the next decade. Harris played in six Pro Bowls, was a four-time first-team all-NFL player, and was inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor.

"I'm very pleased to have Pierre Desir as the inaugural winner of the Cliff Harris Award," Harris said. "He has a tremendous story, starting with his family's move to the United States from Haiti. He didn't begin playing football until the ninth grade, which is when I started. He has worked hard and in the process has become one of the best college defensive backs in the nation. I wish him the best as he pursues his dream of playing in the NFL."

Desir was selected by a prestigious selection committee of college and pro football greats. Members of the committee were Roger Staubach, Lee Roy Jordan, Walt Garrison, Gene Stallings, Jackie Smith, Drew Pearson, Rayfield Wright, Everson Walls, Charlie Waters, Bill Bates, Gil Brandt, Mel Renfro, Jim Hart, and Harris. The committee combined to make 45 Super Bowl appearances, 54 Pro Bowl appearances, 39 All-Pro selections, four inductees into the NFL Hall of Fame, three inductees of the College Football Hall of Fame, six members of the Cowboys Ring of Honor, a Heisman Trophy winner, a Super Bowl MVP, and a College National Champion.

The award is presented by the Little Rock Touchdown Club and Wright, Lindsey and Jennings LLP. The presentation of the $3,000 Cliff Harris Award Trophy will take place at the Little Rock Touchdown Club awards banquet in February. Lou Holtz will be the featured speaker at that banquet.

Desir will be in action on Jan. 18 at the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla.


Some information provided by the Little Rock Touchdown Club. For more information, visit www.cliffharrisaward.com.