From Carnegie Mellon University Athletics

 Junior defensive end Brian Khoury (Davenport, Iowa/Bettendorf) of the Carnegie Mellon University football team has been named a national finalist for the 2015 Cliff Harris Award, which is presented to the top small college defensive player in the nation. The finalist list was announced Thursday afternoon.

The Cliff Harris Award is presented by the Little Rock Touchdown Club and Wright Lindsey & Jennings, LLP and is presented to the nation's top small college defensive player representing more than 5,000 defensive players from almost 500 NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA colleges and universities.

Khoury, an All-South Region first team selection by D3football.com, led the PAC and UAA and ranked fourth nationally with 13.5 sacks for a loss of 95 yards.  The first team All-PAC and UAA Player of the Year, set the school's single-game sack record with 4.0 against Bethany and then became the single-season Tartan leader following his 3.0 sacks at Thiel, passing the mark of 11.0 sacks held by Chris Balouris in 1989 and Anima Nwankwo in 1998.  Khoury totaled 19.0 tackles for a loss of 109 yards which was also best in the PAC and UAA.   He ended the season with 54 total tackles, 33 solo, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

The Cliff Harris Award winner will be announced on December 24 and honored at the Little Rock Touchdown Club's annual awards banquet in February 2016.  The winner will receive the $3,000 Cliff Harris Award trophy presented by Cliff Harris.  In addition to the overall winner, the top vote getters from each division will also be announced.