CHARLOTTE, NC

For the second time this calendar year, an Iowa Western Football player was named the NJCAA Player of the Year.  Freshman linebacker Jacob Ellis was announced by the national office today as the 2021 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, along with Snow College defensive back Keionte Scott.

Ellis is the fourth player under Head Coach Scott Strohmeier to take home the national player of the year honor and the first from the defensive side of the ball.  He joins quarterback Nate Glantz (2020-21) as the second player of the year for Iowa Western in the 2021 calendar year.  Quarterbacks Jake Waters (2012) and Kai Locksley (2017) round out the national players of the year in the 13 seasons of Reiver football.

This season, Ellis led the Reivers' 'Darkside' defense with 77 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and five interceptions.  Ellis posted double digit tackles in three games this year, 11 versus Snow College in Ephraim, UT and 26 (11,15) and three interceptions in two games versus in-state rival Iowa Central.

Ellis helped lead one of the top defenses in the nation. Iowa Western held their opponents to 15.5 points per game, 262.7 yards per game, along with 17 interceptions, 17 fumble recoveries and 31 sacks.

In addition to the national player of the year, Ellis was also named the ICCAC Defensive Player of the Year, a first team D1 NJCAA All-American, and ICCAC All-Conference.