Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, Tory Taylor earn Big Ten end-of-season awards

IOWA CITY — Cooper DeJean and Tory Taylor have earned some significant hardware from the Big Ten.

DeJean is the conference’s Defensive Back of the Year and Return Specialist of the Year, and Taylor is the conference’s Punter of the Year.

DeJean had two interceptions and a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown in 2023 before suffering a season-ending injury. He nearly had a second punt return for a touchdown against Minnesota, but it was called back because of an invalid fair catch.

DeJean is the sixth Iowa defensive back since 2012 to be the Big Ten’s Defensive Back of the Year. (The others were Micah Hyde in 2012, Desmond King in 2015, Josh Jackson in 2017, Amani Hooker in 2018 and Riley Moss in 2021.)

Taylor’s 47.7 yards per punt is the best in the Big Ten and second-best among all Power Five conferences. Taylor also was named the conference’s Punter of the Year in 2020 as a true freshman.

Taylor is the first punter in Big Ten history to earn the recognition multiple times.

Linebacker Jay Higgins also earned all-Big Ten first-team recognition, as voted by coaches and media.

Higgins leads all Power Five players with 141 total tackles so far this season. He already is tied for sixth in program history for total tackles in a single season.

Defensive back Sebastian Castro was a second-team honoree via media and an honorable mention via coaches after recording nine tackles for loss and a team-high three interceptions.

Defensive end Joe Evans and linebacker Nick Jackson were voted by media as third-team honorees. It is Evans’ second consecutive season as an all-Big Ten honoree.

Kicker Drew Stevens was a third-team all-Big Ten honoree, as voted by coaches. Media voted him as an honorable mention. Stevens was named a semifinalist earlier this year for the Lou Groza Award.

Defensive back and Cedar Rapids native Quinn Schulte was an honorable mention, as voted by coaches and media.

Defensive linemen Deontae Craig, Logan Lee and Yahya Black were named honorable mentions by coaches and/or media.

“Really happy for everybody that’s been recognized,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. “They certainly work hard. It’s not easy to play at this level certainly or coach at this level. All those guys have done a great job performing.”

Northwestern’s David Braun was named the conference’s 2023 Coach of the Year. Braun led a Northwestern team reeling from a one-win season and major offseason scandal to a 7-5 record.

The Big Ten will announce its offensive awards and all-conference teams on Wednesday as well as the conference’s Freshman of the Year honor.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com