Iowa’s Jay Higgins, Cooper DeJean, Tory Taylor named first-team All-Americans by FWAA

IOWA CITY — Iowa football has done something no other college football program has done this year: Place three players on the Football Writers Association of America’s All-America first team.

Linebacker Jay Higgins, defensive back Cooper DeJean and punter Tory Taylor all earned first-team honors from the FWAA, the organization announced Monday morning.

It marks the second consecutive year in which Taylor earned first-team All-America honors from the FWAA. DeJean and Higgins earned the FWAA honors for the first time in their careers.

DeJean and Taylor also received first-team All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation while Higgins received second-team honors.

Taylor became the first Hawkeye to win the Ray Guy Award, which recognizes the best punter in college football.

DeJean had two interceptions and one punt return for a touchdown before suffering a season-ending injury. Taylor has averaged a career-high 47.9 yards per punt this season.

Higgins has 155 total tackles so far this season, which already are the most for any Hawkeye since 2005. He needs 17 tackles to break the program record, which Andre Jackson set in 1972.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com