Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, Tory Taylor earn unanimous All-America status

IOWA CITY — Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean and punter Tory Taylor are officially unanimous All-Americans.

They earned the unanimous status after earning first-team recognition on all five of the preeminent All-America teams -- the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Sporting News and most recently the American Football Coaches Association.

It marks the fourth consecutive season in which the Hawkeyes have at least one unanimous All-American, following Daviyon Nixon in 2020, Tyler Linderbaum in 2021 and Jack Campbell in 2022.

It is the first time Iowa has had multiple unanimous All-Americans since 2017, when defensive back Josh Jackson and linebacker Josey Jewell both earned the honor.

The AFCA also named Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins to its All-America second team. Higgins earned either first or second-team honors on all five preeminent All-America teams.

Taylor, who won the Ray Guy Award last week, averaged 47.9 yards per punt this season. DeJean had two interceptions and a punt return for a touchdown before suffering a season-ending injury.

Higgins had 155 total tackles in his first season as Iowa’s starting middle linebacker.

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