The Iowa Hawkeyes‘ big defensive offseason addition is back on another watch list.
After being named to the Butkus Award watch list last week, Virginia transfer linebacker Nick Jackson was named to the Lombardi Award watch list.
Named in honor of legendary former Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi, the Lombardi Award is one of the nation’s highest collegiate honors.
Iowa has had a pair of Lombardi Award finalists in its history. Adrian Clayborn in 2010 and Tyler Linderbaum in 2021. Six other Hawkeyes have been semifinalists for the Lombardi: Jeff Drost (1986), Mike Devlin (1992), Jared DeVries (1998), Robert Gallery (2003), Brandon Scherff (2014), and Jack Campbell (2022).
Nick ➡️ Lombardi Award Watch List@nickjhoops x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/B1cQvyarHi
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) August 15, 2023
Jackson arrives in Iowa City with a ton of experience from his time in the ACC. As a member of the Virginia Cavaliers, he totaled 354 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks. He has had 100 or more tackles each of the last three years, which included 117 in 2021 when he lead the entire ACC in tackles.
Jackson registered a pair of second-team All-ACC nods with the Cavs during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Nick Jackson will look to build on those successes in Iowa City. Jackson was also recently named to Pro Football Focus’ preseason All-Big Ten third team.
Jackson will be part of a linebacker crew that is going to feature new faces after the departures of Campbell and Seth Benson from last season. Jay Higgins is projected to start alongside Jackson in the Hawkeyes’ linebacking corps.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]
[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF