That’s a lot of well-deserved praise for University of Iowa football star linebacker Jay Higgins.
On Monday, Higgins was named to the USA Today Sports Preseason All-American team. Higgins earned preseason first-team All-American honors from USA Today Sports.
Higgins joins USA Today Sports’ first defense team, which also includes Tennessee State defensive end James Pierce, Louisville defensive end Ashton Girott, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, Notre Dame defensive tackle Howard Cross III, Louisiana State linebacker Harold Perkins, Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutzman, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke, Georgia safety Malachi Starks and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
Higgins was sensational for the Hokies last season, as the 6-foot-2, 232-pound linebacker recorded a team-record-tying single-season tackle total of 171 in 2023.
The Indianapolis native emerged as one of the best defensive players in the country in his first full season as a starter. Higgins was named to the First Team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele and Sports Illustrated last season. The Indianapolis native was also a semifinalist for the Butkus Award.
Heading into the 2024 season, Phil Steele named Higgins the national preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Athlon Sports, Phil Steele and Walter Camp also named Higgins a preseason first-team All-American.
Higgins had a decision to make late last year, but he chose not to enter the 2024 NFL Draft and instead play one final season in the black and gold. His decision set off a series of returning dominoes for a defense loaded with talent and experience.
“Being a good recruiter, I invited them to dinner and sat them down. When I announced I was coming back, I figured they’d react a little quicker, so I was a little nervous about not telling them I was coming back until after the bowl game,” Higgins said recently at Iowa’s media day.
After a breakout season in 2023, Iowa fans can’t wait to see what Higgins has in store for an encore in 2024.
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