MADISON -- Howard graduate and Dakota State University defensive end Cole Potter was named one of the 70 finalists for the 2014 Cliff Harris Small College Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday.
The award is presented to the nation's top small college defensive player representing more than 5,000 defensive players from almost 500 NCAA Division II, III and NAIA colleges and universities. Potter was one of 14 players selected from an NAIA school.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound sophomore had a record-breaking season for DSU's defensive line. Potter broke the school record for most quarterback sacks in a single season with 14.5 sacks.
Potter is third in the nation in total sacks with 14.5 and had 32.5 total tackles for a loss. He averaged 1.3 sacks per game and three tackles for a loss per game.
Potter was selected to the North Star Athletic Association all-conference first team in November.
