2025 NJCAA All-Americans | Football
The NJCAA 2025 Football All-Americans were announced on Saturday. For the second consecutive year, all three ICCAC teams had players selected to the annual honor. In total, 18 players from the conference were selected to the three-team list.
Iowa Western led the group with 12 All-American selections following their fourth National Championship in program history, their third in the last four years.
Iowa Central saw five players earn All-American honors this season after concluding the year with a win over No. 15 Snow in the Game One Bowl.
Ellsworth placed one player on the All-American lists after a strong year of improvement for the Panthers.
Malachi Marshall was the standout on offense in the conference, earning ICCAC Offensive Player of the Year and now First Team All-American honors. Marshall finished the season as one of the NJCAA's most efficient passers with a 164.5 rating. He threw for the third most yards (2,750), led the NJCCA in passing touchdowns (33), and all this with the top 10 completion percentage (64.4%). For his trouble, Marshall was named the NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year.
On the defensive side of the ball, Iowa Western's defense dominated with four of the starters earning First Team All-American honors: Blake Hawkins, Andy Burburija, Jerome Baker and Dax Noles.
On a team that led the NJCAA in sacks with 74, Hawkins accounted for 13, the third most in the NJCAA this season. Hawkins also led the NJCAA in tackles for loss (23.5) while forcing three fumbles on the year. Burburija wrapped up the quarterback on 11 occasions this season while also getting 18.5 tackles for loss, good for the fourth most in the NJCAA. At linebacker, Baker was sixth in the NJCAA for total, bringing down his target 88 times while also getting seven sacks. In the secondary, Noles accounted for four interceptions, two forced fumbles and 61 tackles.
Alan Pond on Iowa Central's offensive line earns First-Team All-American honors after an incredible season in both the passing and running game for the Tritons.
One of the top linebackers in the NJCAA, Iowa Central's Taylor Schaefer, was named to First Team All-American. ICCAC Defensive Player of the Year Schaefer was second in the nation in total tackles (97) and tackles per game (9.7) while getting five sacks.
Five players from the ICCAC were named to the Second Team All-American list.
At receiver, Jaivyn Moore earns Second Team All-American honors. Moore was one of the NJCAA's top wideouts after getting 30 receptions for 629 yards, ninth-most in the NJCAA and reeling in the second-most touchdown catches in the NJCAA this season with 12.
Ashton Mozone joins his Reiver teammate on Second Team All-American after a season in which he paved the way in pass protection and run blocking, enabling his teammates to succeed.
Defensively, Jeremy Lewis racked up nine sacks and had 15.5 tackles for loss while forcing three fumbles.
Jake Kracl was named a Second Team All-American as the Punter. Kracl punted for the second most yards (2,251), on an average of 40.9 per kick. He landed more punts inside the 20 than any other punter in the NJCAA (27).
Iowa Central landed one defensive player on the Second Team All-American, Ahmad Grayer. Grayer tallied 55 tackles, two for loss and forced two fumbles this season.
Kicking off the Honorable Mention All-American list, lining up in the back field for Iowa Western, Daniel Swinney was a top-five running back. In 11 games, Swinney ran for 938 yards, fifth most in the NJCAA and 10 touchdowns, fourth most in the NJCAA.
At defensive back for the Reivers, Tim Roberson led the NJCAA with six interceptions, also getting three pass breakups.
The Reivers' kicker, Gus Bashore, scored 83 points this season. Bashore hit the most PATs in the NJCAA (56) and also connected on nine field goals.
Iowa Central's Christian Barney earned Honorable Mention All-American after a great year at linebacker. Barney was top 10 in tackles with 85, making a huge difference in the turnover game with three interceptions and two forced fumbles at linebacker.
On special teams, Triton return specialist Marcellus Chandler gets the nod. Chandler was a constant threat on kick returns, posting 486 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Ellsworth tight end Nick Stevenson was recognized as an Honorable Mention All-American. Stevenson averaged 10.2 yards per catch this season and totaled 235 yards for two touchdowns.
First Team:
Malachi Marshall, Iowa Western - QB
Alan Pond, Iowa Central - OL
Blake Hawkins, Iowa Western - DL
Andy Burburija, Iowa Western - DL
Taylor Schaefer, Iowa Central - LB
Jerome Baker, Iowa Western - LB
Dax Noles, Iowa Western - DB
Second Team:
Jaivyn Moore, Iowa Western - WR
Ashton Mozone, Iowa Western - OL
Jeremy Lewis, Iowa Western - DL
Ahmad Grayer, Iowa Central - DB
Jake Kracl, Iowa Western - P
Honorable Mention:
Daniel Swinney, Iowa Western - RB
Nick Stevenson, Ellsworth - TE
Christian Barney, Iowa Central - LB
Tim Roberson, Iowa Western - DB
Gus Bashore, Iowa Western - K
Marcellus Chandler, Iowa Central - RS