American football player (born 2002)
Jay Higgins (born February 14, 2002) is an American football linebacker for the Iowa Hawkeyes .
Early life
Higgins was born on February 14, 2002, in Indianapolis, Indiana , later attended Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School . Higgins committed to play college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes .[ 1] [ 2]
College career
In Higgins first season in 2020 he notched just two tackles.[ 3] In 2021, Higgins totaled five tackles and a fumble recovery.[ 4] In week nine of the 2022 season, Higgins recorded a career-high 11 tackles versus Northwestern .[ 5] Higgins finished the 2022 season with 39 tackles with one and half going for a loss, and half a sack.[ 6] Higgins opened the 2023 season strong, during week one against Utah State he tallied 16 tackles.[ 7] In week four, Higgins notched a new career-high 18 tackles versus Penn State .[ 8] Higgins was named one of the 12 semi-finalists for the 2023 Butkus Award .[ 9] [ 10] He was also named first team all Big-Ten by both the coaches and the media.[ 11]
College statistics
Iowa Hawkeyes
Season
Tackles
Sacks
Fumbles
INT
Solo
Ast
Total
TFL
Total
FF
FR
INT
PD
2020
2
0
2
0.0
0.0
0
0
0
0
2021
3
2
5
0.0
0.0
0
1
0
0
2022
20
19
39
2.0
0.5
0
0
0
0
2023
79
92
171
5.0
2.0
1
2
1
4
2024
49
69
118
2.5
1.0
2
1
4
5
Totals
153
182
335
9.5
3.5
3
4
5
9
References
^ Tachman, Tyler. "Jay Higgins is forging his own Iowa football legacy in Hawkeyes' improbable season" . The Des Moines Register . Retrieved November 29, 2023 .
^ Dochterman, Scott. " 'It doesn't get better than this': Why tackling machine Jay Higgins chose Iowa" . The Athletic . Retrieved November 29, 2023 .
^ Votzmeyer, Colin. "Iowa football middle linebacker Jay Higgins is ready to shine and continue the Hawkeye standard" . The Daily Iowan . Retrieved November 29, 2023 .
^ "Jay Higgins 2021 Game Logs" . Sports Reference . Retrieved November 29, 2023 .
^ Thomas, Nathan. "College Football: Linebackers Jackson and Higgins ready to continue Iowa's defensive standard" . Globe Gazette . Retrieved November 29, 2023 .
^ "Jay Higgins 2022 Game Logs" . Sports Reference . Retrieved November 29, 2023 .
^ Steppe, John. "Jay Higgins continues Iowa football's trend of stellar middle linebackers" . The Gazette . Retrieved November 29, 2023 .
^ Reister, Scott. "Iowa LB Jay Higgins leading the Hawkeye defense" . KCCI . Retrieved November 29, 2023 .
^ Saville, Scott. "Iowa's Jay Higgins was patient - now he's one of the nation's top linebackers" . KRCG . Retrieved November 29, 2023 .
^ "Jay Higgins Butkus Semifinalist" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved November 29, 2023 .
^ Tachman, Tyler. "Iowa football's Cooper DeJean, Tory Taylor among Hawkeyes to earn All-Big Ten honors" . The Des Moines Register . Retrieved November 29, 2023 .
External links
Offense Defense Special teams