Columbia University Athletics

2022

Saw action in eight games.
 
2021

Started and played in eight games as a junior offensive lineman … Started all eight games at right tackle … Listed all year long as the starter at right tackle on the depth chart … Missed each of the season’s last two games … Helped the offense hold opponents to a school-record low 12 sacks and 65 sacks yards on the year … Key contributor on the offensive line that held opponents to zero sacks in five games (Marist, Georgetown, Penn, Brown, at Cornell) … Made first career start and debut in season opener vs. Marist (Sept. 18).
 
2020

Season canceled due to COVID pandemic.
 
2019
 
Did not see any action as a first-year offensive lineman … Contributed on the scout team.
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A 2019 graduate of J.H. Rose High School, where he played four years of varsity football for Head Coach Dave Wojtecki … Selected to participate in the Blue-Grey All-America Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Jan. 29, 2019 … Two-time unanimous All-Conference selection as an offensive lineman … Two-time All-County selection … Two-year team captain … Played on the offensive line (left offensive tackle) and served as long snapper for the Rampants … Led the Rampants to an 8-4 overall record, Class 4A state playoff appearance and 4-2 conference record as a senior … Helped guide the Rampants to the 2015 North Carolina Class 4A runner-up finish and Eastern Regional title … Also played baseball and competed in track and field for one year each … Played third base and served as designated hitter in baseball … Honored as a Junior Marshall (class rank No. 12 out of 330 students) … Involved in a variety of community service activities including reading to elementary school children, serving as a tutor for elementary school children and helping teach lifting and football techniques to middle school players.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born David Robert Sawyer, Jr. on February 17, 2000 in Greenville, N.C. … Son of David and Kathryn Sawyer of Greenville, N.C. … One of five siblings: Mary Kathryn, Deborah, Elizabeth and Will … Both of his parents attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill … Grandfather Bob Sawyer was a national champion swimmer at East Carolina (1955-59) and is inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame (1974) … Role model is his grandfather who overcame tremendous difficulties as a student-athlete … Hobbies and interests include hunting, fishing and physical training … Nickname: The Jackal … Favorite part about football is the relationships and life lessons learned … Favorite sports figure is Leonard Fournette … Favorite sports memory was being unanimously voted as a team captain by his teammates … Knew he wanted to attend Columbia as soon as he stepped foot on the campus … Chose Columbia to further his education at an internationally renowned university and to continue his passion for playing football … Became interested in Columbia when he was contacted and formally recruited by Lions’ offensive line coach Jon McLaughlin … Committed to Columbia on February 6, 2019 … Chose Columbia over offers from Furman, North Carolina, North Carolina State, East Carolina and North Carolina Central … Enrolled at Columbia College … Majors in Economics.