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After ‘phenomenal’ 2023 season, Iowa’s Jay Higgins is no longer under the radar in the Big Ten
Higgins, once a recruit with only 1 Big Ten offer, is among preseason favorites to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
INDIANAPOLIS — As a 6-foot-2 man in a light gray suit with a white shirt and lavender-colored tie started to ask a question to Kirk Ferentz during Big Ten football media days, the Iowa coach initially said he will “come back to you.”
It’s what Ferentz had to say many times as many questions came his way (often at the same time) during a podium session at the Big Ten’s football media days.
“Gotcha,” the man replied.
Then Ferentz realized what was different about this person. It was not a credentialed reporter, but rather his middle linebacker, Jay Higgins.
“Who the hell is this guy crashing the party?” Ferentz said.
“Jay Higgins here with Hawkeye football,” Higgins said.
“Yeah, I’ve heard about you,” Ferentz quickly quipped.
“What do you do in your free time?” Higgins said in his best attempt at imitating a reporter. “Any hobbies that you have?”
“Golfing with Jay Higgins, it’s one of my favorite things,” Ferentz said jokingly, as the 26th-year head coach does not golf. “I hope you weren’t standing here when I was bragging about you.”
All kidding aside, there has been plenty to brag about with Higgins after his emergence last year as one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten.
When Higgins sat at the very same stage last year at 2023 Big Ten football media days — a last-second replacement for Noah Shannon, who was wrapped up in the sports betting investigation — he was a relative unknown outside of Iowa.
At the time, Higgins had one start through his first three years on campus and did not have a significant role outside of special teams until Jestin Jacobs’ injury woes in 2022.
It was not like he was a high-profile recruit either out of Indianapolis’ Brebeuf Jesuit in 2020. Iowa was his only Big Ten offer — “probably the number one thing that keeps me going” with a chip on his shoulder.
Fast-forward a year, and Higgins returned to Lucas Oil Stadium last week as a known entity across the Big Ten.
Higgins was Phil Steele’s preseason choice for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and he was Cleveland.com media poll voters’ second choice for the same recognition (trailing only Michigan cornerback Will Johnson).
It follows a 2023 season in which he had 171 total tackles, tying a 51-year-old program record set by Andre Jackson. He had a pivotal role on a defense that led the country in yards allowed per game for the second consecutive year.
The season culminated in first-team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America, with other outlets naming him to their All-America second team.
“What he did last year was just phenomenal,” Ferentz said. “We were confident he’d play really well. To put up the numbers he put out, nobody would in their right mind have made that prediction of any young guy.”
The only other Hawkeye linebackers to have 140-plus tackles in a single season in the last 50 years were Abdul Hodge, Chad Greenway, Pat Angerer and the aforementioned Campbell. (All four eventually heard their names called in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft.)
“We definitely got a long list of great linebackers,” Higgins said. “I just so happened to be fortunate to learn under Jack Campbell. I think what he did was really special, and what he’s going to do at the next level is really special as well.”
Higgins, now known across the Big Ten as a special player himself, is looking forward to seeing the next player who “nobody’s covering” emerge like he did a year ago.
“I know there’s a guy working underground, probably not getting much media coverage, probably didn’t play last year and he’s about to go have a good year,” Higgins said. “I’m the biggest supporter of the underdogs right now.”
Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com
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