NFL-Bound Iowa Hawkeye Named Best Linebacker in the Country

The Iowa Hawkeyes are set to lose some key contributors to the NFL, including star running back Kaleb Johnson, come April. One of those has been an anchor of their defense for the last two seasons, and he was just named the best college linebacker in the country by Pro Football Focus.

The Hawkeyes defense has long been lauded not only as one of the best in the nation, but one that produces elite prospects. We saw that on display on Sunday in Super Bowl LIX when Philadelphia Eagles rookie corner Cooper DeJean intercepted Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and returned it for a touchdown. On his birthday no less.

Linebacker Jay Higgins was one of the standout players on a stingy Hawkeye defense over the last two seasons. He compiled a terrific 2024 season with 124 total tackles, a sack, and four interceptions. He was named Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and a Unanimous All-American in 2024.

He also ranked #44 on Pro Football Focus' Top 101 players from the 2024 college football season. He was the highest-ranked linebacker on the website's list:

Photo Credit: David Berding, Getty Images

Higgins is the latest and greatest defensive player at Iowa who can do it all. His four interceptions on the season put his coverage grade at 91.5, second-best among all linebackers. If you need him to stop the run, he can also do that. On 758 total snaps, Higgins racked up 41 run stops and forced two fumbles along the way - per Pro Football Focus

In total, Jay Higgins played 58 games in five years in black and gold, becoming the Hawkeyes' full-time starter in 2023.

As the game of football has changed to favor the offensive side of the football, the linebacker position might not command the average viewers' eyes like it used to. Iowa fans are trained to look in the trenches to see their best players, be it the offensive or defensive line. It was hard to ignore Higgins, who proved himself to be a ball-hawk, notching a combined five interceptions over the last two seasons.