Northwest Missouri State University sophomore running back Jay Harris was selected to The Associated Press Division II All-America team announced Wednesday.

Harris (St. Louis, Mo./Timberland HS) becomes only the second Bearcat running back in school history to be named a first-team AP all-American. Xavier Omon was a first-team choice in 2007. LaRon Council was a third-team selection at running back in 2008 and Al McKeller notched second-team status in 2021. Overall, he is the 28th Bearcat to capture Associated Press First-Team All-America laurels. Harris is the 58th Bearcat football player to earn AP All-America status (first, second or third team).

Harris was the only running back in the country (all NCAA divisions) to rush for 100 yards in all 11 games he played this season. He became the first Bearcat in program history to rush for 100 or more yards in every game. Harris ranked No. 3 in NCAA Div. II in rushing yards per game (130.3) and No. 6 in total rushing yards (1,433). Harris also led the MIAA in all-purpose yards (1,465) and all-purpose yards per game (133.2). Harris led the Bearcats with 14 rushing touchdowns in 2023.

Harris captured first-team all-MIAA and first-team D2CCA Super Region 3 honors following the season.

Harris's Game-by-Game Rushing Stats
8/31 at Missouri Southern - 27 carries, 131 yards, 2 TD
9/7   Emporia State - 23 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD
9/16 at Fort Hays State - 27 carries, 104 yards
9/23 Lincoln - 16 carries, 105 yards
9/30 at Central Missouri - 18 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD
10/7 Central Oklahoma - 22 carries, 274 yards, 4 TD
10/14 at Missouri Western - 22 carries, 105 yards
10/21 Pittsburg State - 19 carries, 123 yards
10/28 at Washburn - 24 carries, 123 yards, 3 TD
11/4 at Northeastern State - 22 carries, 108 yards
11/11 Nebraska-Kearney - 24 carries, 132 yards, 2 TD

ASSOCIATED PRESS NCAA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

FIRST TEAM (Offense)
Quarterback — Zach Zebrowski, third-year, Central Missouri
Running backs — Shen Butler-Lawson, fourth-year, Minnesota State; Jay Harris, second-year, Northwest Missouri State.
Linemen — Garrett Carroll, sixth-year, Grand Valley State; Ty Cobb, sixth-year, Bemidji State; Yuriy Hryckowian, fifth-year, Slippery Rock; Levi Johnson, fifth-year, Colorado School of Mines; Hunter Willis, sixth-year, Harding.
Tight end — Devon Garrison, fifth-year, Pittsburg State.
Wide receiver — Max McLeod, fifth-year, Colorado School of Mines; Kyle Sheets, fifth-year, Slippery Rock University; Arkell Smith, sixth-year, Central Missouri.
All-purpose player — Gage Porter, seventh-year, Southern Nazarene University.
Kicker — Eric Scarpino, sixth-year, Gannon University.

FIRST TEAM (Defense)
Linemen — Marquise Fleming, fourth-year, Wingate; Christian McCarroll, sixth-year, Grand Valley State; John McMullen, seventh-year, West Florida; Nathaniel Wallace, fifth-year, Harding.
Linebacker — Micah Cretsinger, third-year, Saginaw Valley State; Nolan Reeve, sixth-year, Colorado School of Mines; Abe Swanson, sixth-year, Grand Valley State.
Defensive backs — Peyton Buckley, fifth-year, Augustana; Wyryor Noil, sixth-year, Central Missouri; Shon Stephens, fourth-year, Ferris State; Tanner Volk, third-year, Central Washington; Jackson Zimmermann, third-year, Colorado School of Mines.
Punter — Blake Doud, third-year, Colorado School of Mines.

SECOND TEAM (Offense)
Quarterback — John Matocha, fifth-year, Colorado School of Mines.
Running backs — Blake Delacruz, fourth-year, Harding; Jordan Terrell, fourth-year, Barton.
Linemen — Shane Bumgardner, fourth-year, Tiffin; Robert Dunham, fifth-year, Henderson State; Devin Hannan, seventh-year, Valdosta State; Trase Jeffries, fifth-year, Pittsburg State; Blake Larson, sixth-year, Augustana.
Tight end — Mike Rigerman, fifth-year, Findlay.
Wide receivers — John Jiles, sixth-year, West Florida; Tyler Kahmann, fourth-year, Emporia State; Ben Noland, fourth-year, South Dakota School of Mines.
All-purpose player — Michael Herzog, fifth-year, Hillsdale College.
Kicker — Logan Turner, third-year, Southwest Baptist.

SECOND TEAM (Defense)
Linemen — Loobert Denelus, fourth-year, Benedict College; Marcus Hansen, third-year, Bemidji State; Eddie Miller-Garrett, fourth-year, Ohio Dominican; Dakari Streeter, sixth-year, Missouri Western State.
Linebackers — Jack Barkley, fifth-year, Pittsburg State; Garrett Cox., fourth-year, Millersville; Hayden Kelly, fifth-year, Texas at Permian Basin.
Defensive backs — Willie Drew, fifth-year, Virginia State; Giye Jenkins, third-year, New Haven; Josiah Johnson, third-year, Ouachita Baptist; Malik Jones, fourth-year, Delta State; Josh Stokes, fourth-year, Slippery Rock.
Punter — Aaron Winn, fifth-year, Arkansas Tech.

NORTHWEST'S ALL-TIME ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-AMERICA PICKS
1939 Marion Rogers, OL, 1st
1984 Steve Hansley, WR, 1st
1985 Steve Hansley, WR, 1st
1989 Jason Agee, DB, 1st
1991 Erik Petersen, DE, 2nd
1996 Matt Uhde, DL, 1st
1997 Adam Dorrel, OL, 2nd
1997 Twan Young, DB, 3rd
1998 Aaron Becker, DL, 1st
1998 Aaron Crowe, LB, 1st
1998 Chris Greisen, QB, 1st
1998 Steve Coppinger, OL, 2nd
1998 Twan Young, DB, 2nd
1998 Sherman Wilderness, OL, 3rd
1999 Tony Miles, WR, 1st
1999 David Purnell, K, 1st
1999 Chad Thompson, OL, 2nd
2001 Seth Wand, OL, 1st
2001 Jamaica Rector, WR, 3rd
2002 Seth Wand, OL, 1st
2003 Jamaica Rector, WR, 2nd
2004 Jamaica Rector, WR, 1st
2005 Dave Tollefson, DL, 1st
2006 Mike Peterson, TE, 2nd
2007 Xavier Omon, RB, 1st
2007 Mike Peterson, TE, 2nd
2007 Reid Kirby, OL, 3rd
2007 Jared Erspamer, LB, 3rd
2008 Jeremy Davis, OL, 1st
2008 Myles Burnsides, DB, 1st
2008 LaRon Council, RB, 3rd
2009 Brett Grozinger, OL, 1st
2009 Jake Soy, WR, 2nd
2009 Myles Burnsides, DB, 2nd
2010 Brett Grozinger, OL, 1st
2010 Ryan Jones, DB, 1st
2010 Josh Baker, TE, 2nd
2011 Chad Kilgore, LB, 1st
2011 Rod Williams, OL, 2nd
2012 Nate Dejong, S, 2nd
2012 Brandon Dixon, DB, 3rd
2013 Cody Carlson, OL, 1st
2013 Matt Longacre, DL, 1st
2014 Matt Longacre, DL, 1st
2015 Collin Bevins, DL, 1st
2015 Shane Smith, OL, 2nd
2015 Kevin Berg, DB, 3rd
2016 Collin Bevins, DL, 1st
2016 Kyle Zimmerman, QB, 2nd
2016 Kevin Berg, DB, 3rd
2016 Chase Sherman, C, 3rd
2018 Austen Eskew, DL, 2nd
2019 Spencer Phillips, DL, 2nd
2021 Tanner Owen, OL, 1st
2021 Al McKeller, RB, 2nd
2021 Sam Roberts, DL, 2nd
2022 Elijah Green, DL, 1st
2023 Jay Harris, RB, 1st