BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott senior defensive lineman Colin Meropoulos (Monroe, Conn.) has been named a finalist for the NCAA Division III Cliff Harris Award. The winner will be revealed tonight during D3football.com's broadcast of the DIII National Championship game (6:30-7 PM).

Meropoulos was chosen as one of six finalists out of a pool of 400 All-Region selections by the D3football.com staff.

Named after NFL Hall of Famer Cliff Harris, the award acknowledges players who exhibit excellence on and off the field.

The Cliff Harris Award, presented by the Little Rock Touchdown Club and generously sponsored by Wright, Lindsey, and Jennings LLP, recently expanded its recognition program to recognize the top small college defensive players of the year from DII, DIII, and NAIA universities and colleges.

In previous years, the award recognized just one overall winner from all three small college divisions.

Meropoulos earned his spot as a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award following a standout 2023 campaign for the Gulls.

Meropoulos racked up several awards this season including D3football.com All-Region I Defensive Player of the Year honors, D3football.com All-Region I First Team accolades, a New England Football Writers DII/III All-New England Team selection, the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Defensive Lineman of the Year award, and All-CCC First Team laurels.

Playing a mixture of defensive end and defensive tackle throughout the season, Meropoulos compiled 44 total tackles (17 solo, 27 assisted, 10 tackles for a loss) to go with four sacks and two forced fumbles.

The Gulls' defense currently ranks No. 3 overall among all DIII programs in scoring defense at 9.7 points per game.

Meropoulos also ranks second all-time in program history with 22 sacks (needs two to break school record).

This is his first career Cliff Harris Award finalist honor. 

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