IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior Jay Higgins has been named a 2024 Dick Butkus Award semifinalist, it was announced Monday by the Butkus Foundation. It marks the second straight season Higgins is a semifinalist for the prestigious award.
Higgins is one of 15 semifinalists for the 2024 Butkus Award, presented to the nation’s most outstanding linebacker. He is also a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Higgins was named a midseason All-American last month by the Associated Press, Sporting News, CBS and The Athletic.
Higgins is leading the Big Ten in tackles (sixth nationally), making 94 tackles (10.4 per game). He has led the team in tackles in all nine games, including a season-high 14 tackles against Ohio State, Washington and Michigan State. He also has three interceptions (18th nationally and tied for the most by a Power 4 linebacker) and forced two fumbles. Higgins, who has 311 career tackles in 54 games, has five double-digit tackle games this season and 16 in his career.