CBS Sports tabs Iowa LB Jay Higgins as one of the top returning players in 2024
Jay Higgins was an unstoppable force last year for offenses that the Iowa Hawkeyes faced. Rarely did Higgins miss a tackle as he was always filling in the open gaps in the run game and cleaning up any free runners.
Higgins led Iowa and the entire country in tackles last year, which is a testament to his instincts and nose for the ball. With an NFL roster spot awaiting him if he left, Higgins chose to come back to the Hawkeyes for one more year to continue their defensive dominance.
His decision to come back has him among CBS Sports’ top 20 players who could have gone to the NFL but chose to return to the collegiate ranks. Higgins is ranked as the No. 5 best-returning college player.
Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa:
Higgins was one of the leaders of a defense that carried the offensively inept Hawkeyes to the Big Ten West title. He led the nation in tackles with 171, had five tackles for loss and picked off one pass. The 6-foot-2, 233-pound senior from Indianapolis, Indiana, was awarded first-team All-American honors from multiple outlets. – Barrett Sallee, CBS Sports
Higgins is the leader of the Iowa defense that is dominant each year under Phil Parker. He will be the heart and soul of the defense once again in 2024 that is reloading, not rebuilding, by returning eight of their starters.
“The one thing about Jay that’s been so consistent since he’s gotten here is his attitude. That’s what we liked about him in recruiting quite frankly. You meet him face to face, get to visit with him a little bit, you just feel like there’s something there that maybe other people are missing and I think he’s shown that throughout his career…
“This year, we thought he’d play really well, we knew he’d be a strong leader. I think it’s safe to say he exceeded our expectations, all the tackles he’s made. So, that’s really been impressive… To have his leadership back is important. Obviously, he’s a good football player and the more guys that come back for the right reasons, it’s a good thing for us,” Kirk Ferentz said of Jay Higgins return.
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