Little Rock, Ark. – January 13, 2026 – The Cliff Harris Award Presented by Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP and Little Rock Touchdown Club announced the six regional finalists for the 2025 Cliff Harris Award in NCAA Division III, recognizing the top defensive players from each region. Eastern University linebacker Jason Bateman was one of six outstanding defensive players named as regional finalists for the award. 

Bateman earned All-America Honors from the Associated Press and D3football.com and helped the Eagles to a MAC Championship and a trip to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The junior from Upper Darby finished the year with 97 tackles and a DIII-leading seven forced fumbles. Thirteen of Bateman's tackles, including six sacks, happened behind the line of scrimmage. He helped a defense that led the MAC in nearly every major category and finished 13th nationally in total defense. 

Bateman was joined by Galen Limantour of Susquehanna, Dominick Williams of East Texas Baptist, Kaleb Brown from Mount Union, John Sullivan of North Central, and Gage Timm from Wisconsin-RIver Falls.

The Cliff Harris Award recognizes the top small college defensive player in the country in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA. This award highlights exceptional talent and contributions to the game by athletes who have made a significant impact on their teams. This award is generously sponsored by the firm of Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP, one of the premiere law firms in the nation for over 100 years. The Cliff Harris Award is an annual recognition program dedicated to celebrating exceptional defensive players in small college football. Named after NFL Hall of Famer Cliff
Harris, the award acknowledges players who exhibit excellence on and off the field.