Cooper DeJean, Tory Taylor named first-team All-Americans by Walter Camp Football Foundation

IOWA CITY — Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean and punter Tory Taylor earned first-team All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins was a second-team All-American.

Taylor has averaged 47.9 yards per punt this season while attempting an FBS-high 88 punts. Taylor was a first-team FWAA All-American last year, but this marks the first time he receives All-America recognition from Walter Camp.

Taylor also won the Ray Guy Award on Friday, which goes to the best punter in college football.

DeJean had two interceptions and one punt return for a touchdown. (A potential second return for a touchdown was called back because of an invalid fair catch.) The Odebolt native is a first-time All-American.

The only other teams to have multiple Walter Camp first-team All-Americans were Georgia and Notre Dame.

Higgins has a Power Five-high 155 total tackles through Iowa’s 13 games this season. Higgins, like DeJean, is a first-time All-American after starting only two games in his first three years on campus.

The Walter Camp Football Foundation puts together one of the five preeminent All-America teams that determine whether an athlete is a consensus All-American. The other four teams will be announced next week Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com