Tag: Jay Higgins

Iowa standout named Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalist

Iowa football linebacker Jay Higgins was named a Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalist on Monday.

Fifth-year Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins was recognized as one of nine semifinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy on Monday.

The Lott IMPACT Trophy is awarded annually to the nation’s top defensive player, who best exemplifies the characteristics of Ronnie Lott by making an IMPACT on and off the field. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

Higgins is also a semifinalist for both the Butkus and Lombardi awards. The 6-foot-2, 232 pound linebacker has also been named a midseason All-American by the Associated Press, Sporting News, CBS Sports and The Athletic.

One of Iowa’s top defensive playmakers and leaders over the past several seasons, Higgins has been a rock in the center of the Hawkeye defense.

After racking up 171 tackles in the 2023 campaign to tie the single-season school record, Higgins has 98 tackles thus far in 2024. The Indianapolis product also has seven passes defensed, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, one sack and one tackle for loss this season.

In his Iowa career, Higgins has now amassed 315 tackles, 12 passes defensed, 7.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Higgins signed with Iowa in the 2020 class as a three-star per 247Sports. 247Sports rated Higgins as the nation’s No. 63 inside linebacker and the No. 17 player from Indiana.

Higgins left the loss at UCLA with what has been reported as a lower body injury. Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz updated Higgins and fellow Hawkeyes’ injury statuses after the loss at UCLA.

“Yeah, he’s got a tissue issue, so we’ll know more next week. Same way. He tried to go, he went back in and then just watching him come off the field after that possession, I couldn’t imagine him covering on a pass. Hopefully it’s not too bad and hopefully we’ll get him back next ball game,” Ferentz said.

According to Pro Football Focus, Higgins saw just 35 snaps against UCLA.

Iowa (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) has a bye week upcoming and then will return to action on Nov. 23 at Maryland.

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Chiefs scouting report: Iowa Hawkeyes LB Jay Higgins

The Kansas City #Chiefs could target Iowa #Hawkeyes linebacker Jay Higgins on the final day of the 2025 NFL draft.

Linebacker is the weakest and thinnest position on Kansas City’s defense. Nick Bolton hitting free agency after this season won’t help the situation. The Chiefs need to take stock of the top linebackers in the 2025 NFL draft and invest in some depth pieces.

Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Jay Higgins projects as a mid-round selection who could slide to the late fifth or mid-sixth round of the draft. He led all FBS defenders with 171 combined tackles last season, serving as the fixer of Iowa’s talented defense. He totaled more than 500 career special teams snaps across five different units in college, which paved the way for him to see action early in his NFL career.

Higgins lacks elite physical traits. His open-field speed, agility, arm length and frame don’t turn heads, but he plays with an elite motor. Higgins races with urgency to get outside the numbers and make plays along the sidelines. He shows off some burst to close ground and help his defensive backs make plays in space.

Higgins operates in shallow zone drops and prefers to keep receiving targets in front of him. He occasionally matches up with tight ends in off-man coverage over the slot. Higgins quickly closes on pass catchers to limit opportunities after the catch. He arrives with nice power and is an efficient wrap-up tackler.

Higgins’ athletic concerns show up in man coverage. His footwork appears heavy in coverage, and he lacks the straight-line speed and twitch to match NFL-caliber pass-catchers in space. He projects best as a high-motor prospect who rotates into the formation on run downs.

The Hawkeyes face Wisconsin at home on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. The Badgers dropped their last game against Penn State last weekend, while Iowa defeated Northwestern.

Draft prospects at LB to watch during Week 8 of college football season

Three draft prospects at linebacker for Packers fans to watch on Saturday.

It’s Week 8 of the college football season and the 2025 NFL Draft is 187 days away. Let’s take a look at linebackers that Green Bay Packers fans should watch during each time slot (all times central).

Brunch Time: 11:45 a.m.: Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma

The Sooner linebacker plays with fearlessness playing downhill. He’s a battering ram that tries to destroy anything that gets in his way of tracking down the ball carrier. The former four-star recruit is quick to diagnose the action and sift his way through the trash. Stutsman’s motor doesn’t turn off and always seems to be around the football. The Sooner linebacker would bring grit to Green Bay’s front seven.

Crack a beer: 2:30 p.m.: Jaishawn Barham, Michigan

The Michigan linebacker is an explosive mover who has outstanding range. At 6-3, 248 pounds, Barham is a well-put-together linebacker with a nice blend of power and quickness. The Maryland transfer is an effective blitzer and has the lateral quickness to hold up in coverage. Over the past three games, Barham has recorded nine run stops and one tackle for loss.

Nightcap: 6:30 p.m.: Jay Higgins, Iowa

A year ago, Higgins led the nation in tackles (171) and through six games this season he has 62 tackles and 21 run stops, including 28 tackles, one sack and seven run stops during the last two games. He’s a sideline-to-sideline force, who has a nose for the football. The Iowa linebacker trusts his instincts and plays with a ton of confidence. Higgins explodes downhill to make plays behind or near the line of scrimmage to halt run plays before they can get started.

Two Iowa Hawkeyes inside top 50 of CBS Sports’ top 100 college football players

Two Iowa Hawkeyes, Jay Higgins and Kaleb Johnson, are inside the top 50 of CBS Sports’ Top 100 College Football Players of 2024.

The heartbeat of the Iowa Hawkeyes comes from two individuals who are spurring this team on from each side of the ball.

On offense, they are led by Kaleb Johnson who is experiencing a breakout year and is among the nation’s best running backs. On defense, Jay Higgins is the heart and soul of a stout unit with his ability to do it all.

Both players have been dominant for Iowa through their first six games. Their performances have them on CBS Sports’ list of the top 100 players in college football at the midway point of the season with both inside the top 50.

43. Iowa LB Jay Higgins (No. 21)

Higgins has been consistently excellent for the stingy Hawkeye defense for two seasons. He’s been racking up double-digit tackles again this season, averaging 14 tackles over the last two weeks. Higgins has also forced two fumbles and intercepted two passes, making him a must-watch player known for his consistency and attention to detail in all phases of the game. – Blake Brockenmeyer, CBS Sports

Jay Higgins is all over on defense this year. He is always there to clean up the tackles in the middle of the field, but his athleticism has been on display more than ever before.

He leads Iowa with 62 total tackles while also having one tackle for loss, a sack, two interceptions, two pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

38. Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson (NR)

Johnson is a great zone runner with excellent vision and speed, attacking the hole with burst. He has 25 explosive runs and more than 660 yards after contact, making him the nation’s second-leading rusher while averaging almost eight yards per carry. Johnson also has 12 receptions and a touchdown in the passing game. – Brockenmeyer, CBS Sports

Arguably one of the biggest breakout stars in all of college football, Kaleb Johnson has become a household name. He has gone from a rotational back to the second-leading rusher in college football.

Not only does Johnson grind out yards, but his homerun ability is also undeniable as he averages 7.9 yards per carry.

Kaleb Johnson has run for 937 yards and 12 touchdowns on 118 carries He has also already set a career-high receptions as he has hauled in 12 catches so far with one receiving touchdown.

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Two Iowa football stars named to CBS Sports’ midseason All-American team

The Iowa Hawkeyes have star power on both sides of the ball with two of their stars named to CBS Sports’ midseason All-American team.

College football is littered with star power in today’s era of NIL and players getting their name out there. It is easier than ever to become a popular name for many reasons, not including on-field play.

For the Iowa Hawkeyes, they have two popular names, one on each side of the ball, that have become popular the old-fashioned way by letting their play do the talking.

Those two stars are junior running back Kaleb Johnson and senior linebacker Jay Higgins. Each is the leader of their side of the ball and is putting up numbers to match.

Their performances through six games have been good enough to land them on CBS Sports’ midseason All-American team.

Kaleb Johnson is joined at running back by Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty who is having a monster year for the Broncos.

Jay Higgins is accompanied by Buffalo’s Shaun Dolac and Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman at linebacker.

Offensively, Kaleb Johnson has rushed for 937 yards on 118 carries averaging 7.9 yards per carry with 12 rushing touchdowns. He has also tripled his career-high in receptions as he has hauled in 12 catches so far with one receiving touchdown.

After a monster year last year, Jay Higgins has picked up right where he left off. He leads Iowa with 62 total tackles. He has also tallied one tackle for loss, a sack, two interceptions, two pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

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Jay Higgins discusses preparing for new Big Ten team in Washington Huskies

The Washington Huskies make their first trip to Iowa City to take on the Hawkeyes. Jay Higgins discussed preparing for the new faces.

This weekend sees a first for the Iowa Hawkeyes. It is the first time they will welcome the Washington Huskies into Kinnick Stadium in what is now a conference game. In the newly expanded Big Ten, this matchup has conference implications on the line.

One thing that comes with a new team in the conference is preparing for a new scheme, new plays, and new players that you haven’t seen before, a stark contrast from preparing for some players and teams you have seen two, three, or even four times before.

Jay Higgins, the Hawkeyes’ All-American linebacker and one of Iowa’s best at preparing for teams, discussed what it is like preparing for a new team coming into Kinnick Stadium.

“Yeah, it’s different. Luckily it’s in Iowa so I just treat it like a normal home game. I’m sure we’re going to see a whole new group of guys that you’ve probably never played against. Just watching the offense, think it’s your normal offense. I don’t think it’s anything crazy or anything that we haven’t seen before.”

“I expect those guys to come in here ready to play, excited to play Iowa for the first time and just get the matchup going and start us off on the right side of it,” Higgins said about the Huskies coming to Kinnick.

Jay Higgins will be ready and he will need his defense to stand tall this weekend. The Huskies are coming in with a 4-2 record after knocking off the Michigan Wolverines.

On the year, Higgins has totaled 48 tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. He comes into the game off one of the best of his career last week which saw him have 14 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

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Iowa’s Jay Higgins grading out at Pro Football Focus’ top linebacker in the nation

Jay Higgins is the best in the nation.

Jay Higgins could have left for the NFL last year. He would have been drafted. And with his talent combined with his work ethic, odds are pretty high that he would be playing a lot on Sundays.

Instead, he came back to the Iowa Hawkeyes to continue his dominance in the collegiate ranks and be the heart and soul of Phil Parker’s defense as the prototypical stout middle linebacker.

Not only does Higgins take care of business in the run game, where he cleans up tackles better than anyone in the country, but he has shown serious improvement in the passing game with more athleticism and pre-snap knowledge than before.

His play so far in 2024 hasn’t gone unnoticed. He is currently graded as the best linebacker in college football per Pro Football Focus.

Through four games this season, Higgins has registered 34 tackles, two interceptions, four pass deflections, and a forced fumble providing evidence of his ability to do it all.

During Jay Higgins’ career with Iowa, he has appeared in 49 games with 20 starts to his name. He has tallied 251 career tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions, nine pass deflections, and two forced fumbles.

His next test, which may be his hardest yet, comes against the Ohio State Buckeyes and their offensive loaded with firepower. Iowa kicks off against Ohio State on Saturday, Oct. 5 in Columbus, Ohio at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.

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Jay Higgins graded as Pro Football Focus’ top Week 2 linebacker

Jay Higgins is tops in the nation.

Some guys have it. They are always in the right spot and always making the right play. For the Iowa Hawkeyes, senior linebacker Jay Higgins is one of those types of players.

While Iowa did fall to Iowa State 20-19 in Week 2, it was little at the fault of the play of Jay Higgins. As usual, as he has done throughout his career at Iowa, he put together another great performance.

Jay Higgins is Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded linebacker across college football in Week 2.

Higgins led the Hawkeyes in tackles against the Iowa State Cyclones with 11 total tackles. He also reeled in an interception and was credited with a forced fumble. He was doing it all to will Iowa to a victory.

This type of performance is par for the course for Higgins, the senior out of Indianapolis, Indiana.

The interception was the second of his career as was the forced fumble. The 11 tackles have him with a total of 18 tackles through two games this season.

The heart and soul of Phil Parker’s defense, Higgins is tasked with setting up proper alignments, getting the play call out to the rest of the defense, and then finally doing his job, which he does so well.

Jay Higgins has a career total of 236 tackles, 4 pass deflections, 2.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions.

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Jay Higgins accepts blame for coverage bust on Jaylin Noel’s 75-yard Iowa State touchdown

Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins took the blame for the Hawkeyes’ coverage bust on Iowa State receiver Jaylin Noel’s 75-yard touchdown grab.

One of the game-changing plays in Iowa’s shocking 20-19 loss versus Iowa State on Saturday was senior Cyclone receiver Jaylin Noel’s 75-yard touchdown.

To most, it appeared that Noel burnt Iowa junior safety Xavier Nwankpa. Fifth-year Hawkeye linebacker Jay Higgins went to bat for Nwankpa after Iowa’s defeat, though. Higgins said that the blame for the coverage bust can be laid at his feet.

“Yeah, so I got to get a better jam. Xavier, his job versus my job in that coverage is a lot harder than mine. We work on it every day. Coach (Seth) Wallace teaches us to jam receivers, so my job is to take some speed off that receiver running right at X.

“I mean, he’s guarding the whole field. X is counting on me to slow that guy down, re-route him, slow the timing off. I didn’t do that on that play. Everybody’s going to look at X and blame him, but it was on me. I’ll definitely make sure I’m more aware next week. Just try to eliminate those mental error plays where you don’t think the details matter, because obviously that play, just got to slow that guy down. That’s a detail play that an Iowa linebacker should make every time,” Higgins said.

That 75-yard touchdown from Noel was a one-play, immediate response to Iowa’s 7-play, 79-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard Kaleb Johnson touchdown run.

Noel finished with five catches for 133 yards with the one score. The 5-foot-11 receiver from Kansas City’s final grab was even more back-breaking.

Noel managed to work free from the coverage of graduate Iowa CASH Sebastian Castro down the sideline for a 30-yard reception to set up redshirt freshman kicker Kyle Konrardy’s 54-yard game-winner.

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Three Iowa Hawkeyes in CBS Sports’ top 151 college football players for 2024

The Hawkeyes once again have top-end talent.

Everyone knows that the Iowa Hawkeyes are often a deep, experienced, veteran roster. It is a huge part of what makes the program so successful. But, like any great program, that requires top-end talent.

Iowa has top-end talent on both sides of the ball and has a few guys that they can count on to make big plays and show up when it matters. That is why they have three players among CBS Sports’ top 151 college football players for 2024.

Those three stars are Sebastian Castro, Luke Lachey, and Jay Higgins. Coming in at No. 104 on the list, which is a bit underrated, is Iowa defensive back Sebastian Castro.

104. Iowa DB Sebastian Castro

One of the top returning corners in the country on a Hawkeye defense that’s always stifling and suffocating. Excellent coverage skills and rarely allows much space before or after the catch, Castro is also a physical presence in run support. c

Castro does it all for Iowa and he proved so last year. He has the ability to cover in the slot and take the ball away but one of his most promising traits is his ability to tackle in the open field, which is often lost among defensive backs.

Coming in at No. 69 and set up for a big year coming off of an injury is tight end Luke Lachey.

69. Iowa TE Luke Lachey

Lachey is one of the better in-line tight ends in the game, we just haven’t seen much of it as he’s coming off a shortened season where an injury held him to three contests. Lachey is a plus-blocker who can hold his own in the zone and gap schemes and is a large target to work the middle of the field in the passing game. Tight End U needs Lachey healthy. If he is, he will be a huge part of Iowa’s success. – Brockermeyer, CBS Sports

Another year, another great tight end for the Hawkeyes. When healthy and playing, Lachey has flashed his brilliance. He has unfortunately been behind Sam LaPorta who is an NFL star and was off to a great start in 2023 before a lower leg injury.

If Lachey can stay healthy, he completely changes this offense and opens things up in the middle.

Coming in highest on the list for the Hawkeyes is returning linebacker Jay Higgins at No. 21.

21. Iowa LB Jay Higgins

Higgins is an extremely productive player who has a nose for the ball and seems to be involved on almost every tackle. He led the country last season with 171 tackles in his first season as a true starter, including 18 against Penn State.

A good athlete who seems to always be in the right spot and is a sure tackler, Higgins only missed seven attempts on the season. He is solid in coverage as well. My hunch is the NFL takes notice in 2025. – Brockermeyer, CBS Sports

Choosing to forego the NFL draft last offseason and return to Iowa has bolstered this defense to another level. Higgins is the center of Phil Parker’s unit and does everything right.

Jay Higgins is primed for another massive year and could skyrocket himself up NFL scouts’ draft boards.

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