Jay Higgins (born February 14, 2002) is an American football linebacker for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
_(cropped).jpg) Higgins with Iowa in 2023 | |
| Iowa Hawkeyes – No. 34 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker |
| Class | Senior |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | February 14, 2002 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 233 lb (106 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College | Iowa (2020–present) |
| High school | Brebeuf Jesuit Prep (Indianapolis) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Early life
editHiggins 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
editIn 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
editIowa 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 | 41 | 57 | 98 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Totals | 145 | 170 | 315 | 8.0 | 3.5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
References
edit- ^ 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.