Nick Holshoe, a 2013 graduate of Hopkins High School, has been nominated for the prestigious Cliff Harris Award as the nation’s top small college defensive player for the second year in a row.

Holshoe, a defensive back for Concordia University near Ann Arbor, led the 2016 Cardinals with 88 total tackles and had two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two recoveries, and seven breakups. He is second all-time at Concordia with 381 career tackles and first all-time with 14 interceptions including an NAIA-leading nine picks in 2015.

He finished his four-year career at Concordia with 381 tackles, 14 interceptions and five forced fumbles in his four years.

Holshoe was an all-O-K Silver Conference selection at defensive back while playing in the fall of 2012 for coach Cody Francis and Hopkins varsity football team that went undefeated in nine regular season games before losing in overtime in the playoffs to state champion Grand Rapids West Catholic.

The Cliff Harris 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, Division III, and NAIA schools. Cliff Harris was overlooked by many college recruiters, but ended up playing college football at the small Ouachita Baptist University in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference. After college he went undrafted, but found his worked his way into a starting position on the Dallas Cowboys in 1970. In 10 seasons, Harris played in five Super Bowls, was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, and was named a first-team All-NFL player in four consecutive seasons.

“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to recognize the most outstanding defensive players from small colleges across the country,” Harris said. “As a small college player myself, I always understood that recognition and respect for outstanding play was more difficult to attain compared to players from larger schools.”

Holshoe is considering taking part in NFL tryouts.

PHOTO: Nick Holshoe

Nick Holshoe in action for Concordia

Nick Holshoe four years ago in action for Hopkins.