Few linebackers in college football right now are playing at as high of a level as Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Jay Higgins. The leader of Phil Parker’s defense entered this year after an outstanding season last year and has picked up right where he left off.
In his fifth season with Iowa, Higgins has become Iowa’s eyes and ears on the defense and is acting as a coach on the field. He makes the calls and checks for Iowa’s defense to get them in the right look.
His play on the field has Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz comparing him to some NFL legends and all-time Iowa greats when asked about what he has meant to the Hawkeyes.
“But yeah, Jay has been great. I can’t say enough about him. I said this back in the summertime, in this modern era of cut and run, not that everybody does that, but it seems to be pretty popular, he ends up sitting behind a guy named Jack Campbell, who’s pretty good, and Jay recognized that, and instead of running from Jack, he went and ran to him and listened and really watched him, most importantly,” Ferentz said of Higgins’ time learning from Jack Campbell.
Ferentz then elaborated on what makes Higgins so talented. He expanded on Higgins’ dedication and his desire to be great.
“Now he’s become one of the best of our guys ever. He’s always had a great personality. Does a lot of football, which as silly as that sounds, it’s a real starting point to being a great player in my opinion.”
“Lives for it. Last night I think I saw him going downstairs about 8:30 p.m. I’m sitting at my desk and if my door is open I can watch guys go up and down the steps. He’s going home at 8:30, so he’s back there watching tape. Good things don’t happen by accident,” Ferentz continued.
Kirk Ferentz has been around some all-time greats during his tenure at Iowa and his time in the NFL before that. He knows what greatness looks like and made a comparison of Higgins to one of the best linebackers to ever play the game.
“I’m not trying to compare him to Ray Lewis but Ray was a rookie all of our first years in Baltimore, and you could hear Ray just about anytime, anywhere, but the one thing about him, boy, I’ll tell you, nobody worked harder than him. Same deal like early in the morning, there late at night, that type of stuff.”
“You wonder why great players are great players, there’s a dedication. Just the way they study it and the way they approach it. They’ve also got some humility, and Jay has got all those things. He’s done a great job, and we’re thrilled he’s on our team,” Ferentz ended with.
Through three games, Jay Higgins has 25 tackles leading Iowa. He has two pass deflections, one forced fumble, and one interception as well.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Riley on Twitter: @rileydonald7