LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Defensive End,
Ch'aim Smith (York, Pa./York Suburban) has been named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award handed out by the Little Rock Touchdown Club and Wright Lindsey Jennings.
The award is presented to the nation's top small college defensive player representing more than 5,000 players from almost 500 NCAA Division II and III and NAIA colleges and universitites.
It marks the sixth time in the last seven years that a West Chester defensive player has been listed among the finalists for the prestigious award and the first time since
Tyler Morrissey each of the past two years. Smith is the first defensive lineman from WCU to appear on the list of finalists since Andrew Cohen in 2015. Al-Hajj Shabazz (2014) and Ronell Williams (2013) are the other finalists since the inception of the award in 2013.
Smith and teammate
Jarey Elder (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) were each originally nominated for the Cliff Harris Award. It marked the first time in the seven years of the award that West Chester had two representatives on the initial list.
Smith, a graduate student, earned first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) on Dec. 3. His 20.5 tackles for loss paced all defenders in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and His 8.5 sacks ranked sixth in the PSAC and 33rd nationally. In his four-year career, Smith finished second all-time at West Chester with 25 sacks while placing third in school history in tackles for a loss with 43.5.
Smith completes his prolific career with 157 career tackles, including 74 solo and 83 assisted. He also was credited with 18 QB hurries and eight pass breakups during his career in purple and gold. His 18 QB hurries are second to only Andrew Cohen's 22 since 2003. He forced a pair of fumbles and recovered four. He also blocked a pair of kicks. His 57 tackles in 2016 led the squad in that category as a sophomore.
Smith appeared in 47 games, leading West Chester to a PSAC East title three times (2015, 2017-18) and an overall conference crown in 2018. He played on three squads that reached the NCAA Tournament (2017-19).
The Golden Rams had a 9-3 record this season and made the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row.
The Cliff Harris Award winner will be announced on Friday, Dec. 27, and the winner will be honored at a banquet at the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Jan. 9, 2020.
