Jay Higgins has been waiting for this moment for a long time. Higgins is in his fourth year in the Iowa program, but he played only sparingly most of his first three seasons in Iowa City while backing up Jack Campbell at the mike, or middle linebacker position. Now Higgins is ready for his turn in the spotlight.
"I'm personally excited to show guys what I can do," Higgins said when asked about that wait and what his expectations are for 2023. "I've been learning for a long time, under a great linebacker (Butkus Award winner Jack Campebll). Everyone's excited to show what we can do. It takes everyone in the room. The linebacker room will end up where we want to be if we focus on the small details."
He also praised transfer linebacker Nick Jackson, who figures to be Higgins' on-field partner at linebacker this season. Asked what about Jackson stands outs, Higgins said it was "The competitive nature from him. He fits right in with us. It feels like he's been in the Iowa program for the last four years. He's come in and he's been himself but he fits win right with what a Hawkeye linebacker looks like, which has been great."
On the topic of the linebacker room, Higgins also said some of the younger linebackers have been standing out so far.
"[Jaxon] Rexroth, [Zach] Twedt, [Kelby] Telander, [Jaden] Harrell, [Karson] Sharar, that class right there. Those guys have started to pick up on what a Hawkeye linebacker is, the dedication and amount of film study that goes into it, as well as the social aspect, and the sacrifice of being a college athlete."
He also noted that the incoming freshman been impressive. "The freshmen look really good. Jack [Laughlin] and Aidan [Hall] are just getting back from the [East-West] Shrine Bowl and the Shrine Bowl is a big deal in Iowa."
He singled out one of Iowa's most high-profile incoming freshmen as well -- four-star recruit Ben Kueter. "And [Ben] Kueter -- I hate to scare him a little bit, but I see a lot of [Jack] Campbell [in him]. He's a long linebacker. He's a tall kid and long. I tell him I'll wrestle him in the locker room, knowing I'll never try to do that. [laughs] He's one of those guys who knows that details matter, and is always trying to get better, and always asking what he can do better. He's in a position where he's really trying to learn."
Higgins thought that Kueter could see the field this fall, especially on special teams.
"Definitely. A lot of freshmen look like they're ready to go. It's a different game than high school. There's a lot to learn from [special teams coordinator] Coach [LeVar] Woods and [linebacker coach] Coach [Seth] Wallace. I remember how big special teams were for me my freshman year. Getting on that travel roster, running down on kickoffs -- that's on every freshman's goal list. And if you strive for that, you'll like the results down the line."
Higgins was also asked how he felt about the offensive line, as guys that he goes up against often during practice. "Hate those guys. I hate the offensive line," he said with a laugh.
"Nah, some of my best friends are on the offensive line. Mason Richman, Logan Jones, Tyler Elsbury, those guys in my class. We added some beef in there this spring, they looked bigger than usual. Rusty Feth, Daijon Parker. Connor [Colby]'s looking healthy. There are some big, beefy dudes in there."
Experience was the biggest difference between the offensive line last season and this season, according to Higgins. "A lot of those guys are returning back. The maturity level that's coming from the offensive line room is higher. It was Logan Jones' first time playing center - that's hard stuff. I've been playing linebacker for six years. I can only imagine just changing [to a new] position like that. The leadership he has to offer, Mason Richman and the leadership he has to offer, Gennings Dunker just won the hay bale competition [the Hay Bale Toss at Solon Beef Days]. It's a talented group, and they're getting older.
Higgins also expanded on his praise for Logan Jones. "Logan is a pain because of fast he is, and how strong he is as well. I don't know if you see the weight room records, but his name is up there a lot, and he's a center. Just his ability to snap that move and move really quickly to the next level is impressive."
Being back home in Indianapolis -- and at Lucas Oil Stadium in particular -- for Big Ten Media Days was a big deal for Higgins, an Indianapolis native. "I love being in Lucas Oil Stadium," he said. "In high shcool, I would come back for [Indianapolis] Colts games. My grandma is a [Colts] season ticket holder. Sophomore year, we played the state championship here. It's always been fun, it's always been a big pillar of success if you got to come to Lucas Oil and do anything football-related."
Higgins talked about his recruiting process and how frustrating it was to be an under-the-radar recruit for bigger programs."It was challenging. I tried to be better every high school game. I was trying to put out the craziest numbers I could," he explained. "
"The good thing about playing high school is that you're out there with some of your friends, and guys are out there having fun. But It was challenging not getting the recruiting attention I wanted. I'm happy Iowa reached out. I'm glad I chose Iowa in the long run."
Iowa was the only Power 5 school to offer Higgins. "I had basically everybody in the MAC, and then Iowa offered me. I got off the market right after that. Really didn't want to hear from anyone else who saw that Iowa offered me and then wanted to start recruiting me. I think I committed on my official visit."
Finally, Higgins talked about being patient and staying at Iowa and waiting his turn versus entering the transfer portal to seek a different opportunity. "It's how I was raised. I knew Iowa was the place for me," he said.
"I wanted to go somewhere I would be coached extremely hard and expectations were very high. I felt like Iowa was always my home. I knew it was a place I could thrive and I felt comfortable to stay. The relationships I've made there, some of my best friends are at the University of Iowa. I would want nothing more than to make Coach Wallace and Coach Parker proud. Me staying up there is really just me trusting the process, trusting how Coach [Kirk] Ferentz runs his program. If you show up every day, you'll have a pretty good chance to succeed."
