It seems that the days of a player on defense being the heart and soul of a team are going to the wayside with the explosion of offenses. Fortunately, that old adage still exists in Iowa City.
Jay Higgins, the Iowa Hawkeyes heart and soul, led Phil Parker’s defense for the last two seasons as the middle linebacker and was so much more than just a force on the field.
Higgins was able to be a coach in between the boundaries and be the focal point of one of America’s best defenses.
His efforts this year are not unnoticed, either. His performance once again helped the Iowa defense constantly stonewall opponents.
Due to that, Jay Higgins has been named the Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year.
The award comes after Higgins tallied his second season in a row surpassing 100 tackles. This year, jay Higgins tallied 118 tackles, five pass deflections, a sack, two forced fumbles, and four interceptions to prove he can do it all on defense.
Higgins is departing Iowa after the conclusion of the Hawkeyes’ bowl game and will be starting next fall on an NFL roster likely making a team very happy in the football player and man that they are getting.
The native of Indianapolis, Indiana leaves Iowa with 336 tackles, eight pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and five interceptions to his name.
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