Courtesy of Ferris State Athletic Communications
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- Ferris State University senior safety Justin Payoute (Miami Gardens, Fla.), who helped lead the Bulldogs to the school's fourth NCAA Division II National Championship in the past five years, has been honored as the 2025 Cliff Harris Award recipient as the nation's top defensive performer in D2 football.
Payoute becomes the second-ever Bulldog standout to claim the prestigious honor, following in the footsteps of 2022 honoree and former teammate Caleb Murphy.
The Cliff Harris Award is presented by Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP and is recognizes the top small college defensive player in the country on the NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA levels.
A consensus first-team All-American, Payoute had a record-setting senior season for the national champion Bulldogs, who capped off an unbeaten regular season with a 16-0 record. The four-year starter has been a leader on the back end of the FSU defense, which ranked among the top units nationally.
This past fall, Payoute's nine total interceptions led all collegiate divisions and the Bulldogs' 30 team interceptions ranked number one in the nation. He totaled 72 total tackles, including 35 solo stops, four tackles for losses and scored touchdowns on both an interception and a fumble recovery. He was an instrumental part of the defense during Ferris State's playoff run to the national championship. Over three consecutive postseason games, he finished with 14 tackles against Ashland, two interceptions versus Minnesota State and two interceptions in a win over Newberry in the national semifinals.
During his collegiate career, Payoute helped lead FSU to four national championships since his arrival from Florida and the Bulldogs averaged 13.5 wins the past five seasons. He ended his career by helping Ferris State extend its school record winning streak to 30-straight games going back to 2024.
The winner of the 2025 Cliff Harris Award is selected by the Cliff Harris Award selection committee and was selected among 18 finalists this season. The award highlights exceptional talent and contributions to the game by athletes who have made a significant impact on their teams. The award is generously sponsored by the firm Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP, one of the premiere law firms in the nation for over 100 years.
