Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

All Divisions

Filer receives David Rowlands Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award

May 30, 2023

Charlotte, NC – The NJCAA has announced Jackson Filer, football student-athlete from Iowa Western Community College, as the 2022-23 David Rowlands NJCAA Male Student-Athlete of the Year.  

Over two seasons in Council Bluffs, Filer was a key piece of Iowa Western's "Darkside" defense.  As a sophomore, Filer's defensive efforts helped the Reivers to claim the No. 3 ranking in the final regular season poll and earn a spot in the NJCAA Division I Football Playoff for the second consecutive year.  After defeating No. 2 Northwest Mississippi in the semifinal contest, Iowa Western stunned No. 1 Hutchinson in the 2023 NJCAA DI Football Championship game with a 31-0 victory.  Filer contributed one tackle, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble in the national title contest.  

Filer, a 6-foot-3 native of Des Moines, IA, completed the 2023 season leading the nation with 15.5 sacks with 113 sack yards while also adding 56.0 total tackles, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.  Filer was named the NJCAA DI Football Defensive Player of the Year, NJCAA Division I All-America First Team selection, Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) All-Conference, and ICCAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Filer concluded his career in Council Bluffs as Iowa Western's career leader in sacks, tackles for loss, fumble recoveries, and forced fumbles.  

"Jackson is what you want in a student-athlete. He is a great football player but what he has done in the classroom and off the field is what sets him apart," said Scott Strohmeier, Iowa Western Head Football Coach. Following his career at Iowa Western, Filer will continue his athletic and academic career at the University of Iowa.

NJCAA Athletic Accomplishments

  • 2023 NJCAA DI Football National Champion
  • 2023 NJCAA DI Football Defensive Player of the Year
  • 2023 ICCAC Defensive Player of the Year
  • 2023 NJCAA DI First Team All-America
  • 2022 NJCAA DI Honorable Mention All-American
  • 2023 ICCAC First Team All-Conference
  • 2023 ICCAC First Team All-Region

Filer will be honored during the NJCAA Foundation Awards event, held on Thursday, June 8 at the Hilton Charlotte University Place at 6:30 PM ET. The event will recognize the NJCAA Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year, the Lea Plarski Award winner, the Champion Award winners, and the Difference Maker Award winner, in addition to the 2023 class of the NJCAA Hall of Fame.

To learn more regarding the NJCAA Foundation Awards event, visit: NJCAA Foundation Awards

To learn more about past NJCAA Male Student-Athletes of the Year, visit: David Rowlands Award Winners

About the NJCAA David Rowlands Award

David Rowlands was an active member of the NJCAA from 1972-1988. He was a regional director during that time and from 1975-1988 was the chair of the NJCAA baseball committee. Rowlands, a baseball coach at Truman College (Chicago, IL), served on the NJCAA gymnastics, golf, executive and eligibility committees. Rowlands was the perfect model of hard work, discipline, ethics, and excellence in community college athletics. This award is given annually to the NJCAA Student-Athlete that best exhibits these traits.