LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Saginaw Valley State University senior linebacker Micah Cretsinger was named a finalist for the 2024 Cliff Harris Award on Tuesday afternoon. The NCAA Division II finalists were selected by the Cliff Harris Award NCAA Division II selection committee and Little Rock Touchdown Club.

Cretsinger has had a fantastic senior campaign with four All-America honors (1st Team D2Football.com Elite 100 and Don Hansen, 2nd Team AFCA and D2CCA). He was named the 2024 GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year, and First-Team All-GLIAC leading the SVSU defense in tackles for the second consecutive season with 82 stops, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, seven hurries, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one recovery, and one interception. Cretsinger finished the season with back-to-back 12 tackle games in the last two weeks and he reached double-digit tackles three times during the 2024 season all in the final four weeks of play.

The Cliff Harris Award recognizes the top small conference defensive player in the country in NCAA Division II, Division III, and the NAIA. The award highlights the exceptional talent and contributions to the game by the athletes who have made a significant impact on their teams. 

Cretsinger is the only player from the GLIAC to be named a finalist for the award and is the first player from SVSU to earn this recognition since Nick Whiteside in 2022.

The Winner of the Cliff Harris Award will be announced on Tuesday, January 7.