IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa football players Sebastian Castro, Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson were named on Monday to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List for the most outstanding defensive player in the nation.
Iowa’s three candidates tie Georgia, Miami, Michigan and Ohio State for the most in the country in 2024. Castro, Higgins and Jackson were each named to the Bronko Nagurski Watch List last month, which is a different award for national defensive player of the year.
Presented annually since 1994, the award is named for University of Pennsylvania linebacker Chuck Bednarik. Preseason honorees are determined by the Maxwell Football Club in collaboration with Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Phil Steele Publications.
Higgins (6-foot-2, 232-pounds) recorded 171 tackles (79 solo, 92 assists) last season, which led the Big Ten and ranked third in the nation. That total ties the program record for tackles in a single season. The Indianapolis native was named to the FWAA All-American First Team in 2023.