Senior safety Marqui Christian dominated play with his aggressive and hard-hitting mentality over the last four seasons at Midwestern State.
 
For that grit and determination, Christian was recognized for the Cliff Harris Award as the top defensive player in the country representing Division II, Division III and the NAIA by the Little Rock Touchdown Club.
 
Christian will receive the $3,000 Cliff Harris Award trophy at the Little Rock Touchdown club's annual awards banquet in February. Christian becomes the program's third winner joining current Cleveland Brown standout Pierre Desir (Lindenwood (Mo.)) in 2013 and Colorado State-Pueblo defensive end Darius Allen in 2014.
 
The 6-1, 205-pounder out of Spring has piled on postseason accolades becoming MSU's first defensive player since 1952 to earn Associated Press Little All-America honors taking second team honors earlier this month.
 
Christian was a first-team All-America selection by both the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) and D2CCA (sports information directors) teams after gaining J.V. Sikes/Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year and top defensive back honors as a three-time, first-team All-LSC performer.
 
Christian closed his Midwestern State career as the program's all-time tackle leader with 295 and is projected for selection in the 2016 NFL Draft.
 
Like the namesake for the award, Christian received one scholarship offer and excelled for four seasons at MSU.
 
Harris, for who the award is named in honor of, is a former Dallas Cowboy great. The Arkansas native was also offered just one college scholarship to then-NAIA Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Ark.
 
He was passed over for the 1970 NFL Draft before signing a free agent contract with the Cowboys. He helped lead Dallas to five Super Bowl appearances during the next decade. The hard hitting Harris played in six Pro Bowls and changed the way the position of free safety was played.