Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins announces plans to stay for extra year of eligibility

IOWA CITY — Iowa football will have another year of Jay Higgins.

The All-American linebacker announced his plans to return for his extra COVID-19 year of eligibility on the team’s social media accounts Tuesday evening.

“I got more to prove,” Higgins said in the team’s social media graphic.

It is a major coup for Iowa after Higgins had a starring role on a defense that was again among the best in the country.

Higgins has led Power Five players with 155 total tackles and will have an opportunity to potentially break the Iowa single-season tackles record in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1. His monstrous numbers have been despite 2023 being his first year as Iowa’s starting middle linebacker.

The Indianapolis area native earned first-team All-America recognition from the Football Writers Association of America and second-team All-America recognition from the American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Football Foundation, Associated Press and Sporting News. He earned all-Big Ten recognition from coaches and media.

Higgins joins offensive lineman Nick DeJong as seniors who have so far decided to return for their extra COVID-19 year of eligibility. Other names to watch include linebacker Nick Jackson (because of an NCAA waiver) and defensive backs Sebastian Castro and Quinn Schulte.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com