RPI’s Hoggard nominated for Cliff Harris Award
TROY, N.Y. >> Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Jack Hoggard is a nominee for the Cliff Harris Award, which is presented annually to the top small college defensive football player in the country representing almost 500 NCAA Division II, III and NAIA colleges and universities.
A senior linebacker, Hoggard (Acton, MA / Acton-Boxborough) helped Rensselaer to a 10-2 record, winning a Liberty League Championship and a berth into the NCAAPlayoffs. The Engineers advanced to the national quarterfinals after wins over Husson University (38-14) and The College at Brockport (21-13). RPI’s season ended at Johns Hopkins University with a 37-14 loss.
Hoggard’s 2018 contributions included:
Captain ... First on team in solo tackles (42), assisted tackles (75), total tackles (117) and pass breakups (8) ... Second in tackles for lost yards (5 for 9 yards) ... Longest fumble return on team (17 yards vs. Union) ... Ten- or-more tackles in six games, including 16 at Utica and 11 vs. Union ... At least 1.0 tackles for lost yards three times, including 2.0 at Allegheny (4 yards) and 1.5 vs. Union (2 yards) ... Two pass breakups in three games ... Team won Transit Trophy vs. WPI … First in Liberty League in assisted tackles and total tackles ... Second in av-
age tackles per game (9.8) and pass breakups ... Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week once ... All-Liberty League First Team ... Liberty League All-Academic ... CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-District.
Rensselaer, which is coached by Ralph Isernia, registered the second most wins in a season and played in the NCAA Quarterfinals for the just the second time in program history. Hoggard and his fellow seniors set the school record for wins by a class with 33.
As a junior, Hoggard was fourth on the team with 53 total tackles on his way to earning All-Liberty League Second Team. He had 22 unassisted stops, two sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and four pass breakups as a starter in each of the 11 games.
A business and management major, he is a Dean’s Honor List student who has been inducted into Epsilon Delta Sigma, a management honor society.