January 23, 2026

Ferris State Football’s Justin Payoute receives 2025 Cliff Harris Award as the nation’s top defensive performer

Ferris State University senior safety Justin Payoute has been honored as the 2025 Cliff Harris Award recipient as the nation's top defensive performer in NCAA Division II football.

The Cliff Harris Award is presented by Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP and recognizes the top small college defensive player in the country on the NCAA DII, NCAA DIII and NAIA levels.

Payoute was among 18 finalists picked by the Cliff Harris Award selection committee, as the award highlights exceptional talent and contributions to the game by athletes who have made a significant impact on their teams.

This honor comes just weeks after Payoute helped lead the Bulldogs to the school's fourth NCAA DII National Championship in the past five years. The Miami Gardens, Fla., native is now the second-ever Bulldog to claim the prestigious honor, following in the footsteps of 2022 honoree and former teammate Caleb Murphy.

A consensus first-team All-American, Payoute had a record-setting senior year for the back-to-back national champions. The four-year starter has been a leader on the back end of the FSU defense, which ranked among the top units nationally.

Payoute's nine total interceptions throughout 2025 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 two defensive 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. Payoute finished with 14 tackles against Ashland, two interceptions versus Minnesota State and two interceptions in a win over Newberry in the national semifinals. The efforts helped the Bulldogs cap off an unbeaten regular season with a 16-0 record.

Payoute ended his career by helping Ferris State extend its school record winning streak to 30-straight games going back to the 2024 season, as the program averaged 13.5 wins throughout Payoute’s time in a Bulldog uniform.