Iowa’s Jay Higgins receives first-team All-America nod from Associated Press

IOWA CITY — Jay Higgins can add another All-America honor to his resume.

The Associated Press named Higgins a first-team All-American on Monday. It is his third first-team All-America honor from the preeminent organizations that determine consensus All-America status, following first-team nods last week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

The three first-team All-America honors are enough for Higgins to clinch consensus All-America status. He is Iowa’s second consensus All-American linebacker in the last three years, joining Jack Campbell in 2022.

Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, meanwhile, was an AP second-team All-American. Johnson also was a second-team AFCA All-American and a first-team Walter Camp All-American.

The Hawkeyes have had at least one AP first or second-team All-American in 11 consecutive seasons.

Higgins’ honor follows a regular season with 118 total tackles and four interceptions. He also was named the Big Ten’s Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year. Johnson, the Big Ten’s Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year, rushed for 1,537 yards and set a program record with 21 rushing touchdowns and 23 total touchdowns.

The Football Writers Association of America will announce its All-America team on Tuesday, and the Sporting News will announce its All-America team on Wednesday.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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