One starting linebacker down, another to go.
Over the past two years, Iowa fans have been blessed with stellar linebacker play. While most attention was given to Butkus Award winner Jack Campbell, it would be foolish to disregard the contributions of his partner in crime Seth Benson.
While never the biggest or most dynamic athlete, Benson was as solid a starting linebacker as you could find. A second-team All-Big Ten member last year, Benson was someone who inspired his teammate Jack Campbell.
Now, Benson is off to chase his dream of playing in the NFL, joining third-round pick Riley Moss in Denver as an undrafted free agent. Iowa knew both Campbell and Benson would be hard to replicate, especially if relying on inexperienced up-and-comers to have an immediate impact. With that in mind, Iowa hit the transfer portal and grabbed a gem in Virginia graduate transfer Nick Jackson.
Excited to announce my commitment to The University of Iowa! #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/ruNjQMsC8c
— Nick Jackson (@nickjhoops) February 8, 2023
Not to be confused with one-half of the former AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks, Jackson enters Iowa City as one of the elite tacklers in the nation.
It is rare that you can pick up a linebacker who has three, count em’, three seasons with over 100 tackles, but that’s exactly what the Hawkeyes are getting in Nick Jackson. Jackson was one of the best players in his conference, earning second-team All-ACC status each of the past two seasons.
It may not have come in the Big Ten, but Nick Jackson is 100% legit.
With the landscape of the Big Ten shifting more and more away from the old school grind-it-out offenses, it will be interesting to see how Iowa uses both Jackson and Higgins in 2023. Here is a look at Iowa’s newest starting linebacker Nick Jackson.