3 Hawkeyes Tabbed All-America By FWAA

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Three University of Iowa football players -- senior linebacker Jay Higgins, junior running back Kaleb Johnson and senior punt returner Kaden Wetjen -- were honored on Tuesday as first-team All-Americans by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

Since 1945, the FWAA has been one of five outlets recognized by the NCAA to determine consensus All-Americans (Walter Camp, Associated Press, Sporting News, American Football Coaches of America). Higgins has solidified consensus All-America status and can be unanimous should he earn first-team All-America recognition by Sporting News on Wednesday. Higgins is Iowa’s 32nd consensus All-American and 17th in the Kirk Ferentz era.

• Iowa is the only school in the country to have a trio of first-team All-Americans by FWAA in 2024.
• The Hawkeyes have had a FWAA All-American (first or second team) 12 straight seasons, dating back to 2013, the second longest active streak in the country (Alabama, 17).
• Iowa has had 11 FWAA All-Americans the last four seasons, second only to Georgia (10).
• The Hawkeyes have had a special teams All-American four of the last six seasons.
• Iowa has had multiple FWAA All-Americans each of the last six seasons (2019-24).

Higgins also earned first-team All-America distinction by Walter Camp, AP and AFCA. Higgins (6-foot-2, 232 pounds) was also honored as the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten. He is the only player in the nation with 100+ tackles and four interceptions. His four picks are tied for the most amongst linebackers from a Power 4 conference. Higgins, who was a semifinalist for the Lombardi, Lott IMPACT and Butkus awards, has racked up 118 tackles -- second most in the Big Ten, 13th-most nationally. The Indianapolis native has been a leader on an Iowa defense that is ninth nationally, allowing 17.1 points per game.

In addition to being voted first-team All-America by FWAA, Johnson was also a first team selection by Walter Camp. He was honored as a second-team All-American by the AP and AFCA. Johnson was also voted Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten and finalist for the Doak Walker Award. He posted school single-season records in points (138), total touchdowns (23) and rushing scores (21). Johnson (6-foot, 225 pounds) rushed for 1,537 yards in 12 games, sixth-most in the country and third-most in program history. The native of Hamilton, Ohio, scored at least one touchdown in all 12 regular season games -- the longest stretch in school history. Johnson had seven games in 2024 with two or more rushing touchdowns, believed to be the most in a single season in program history. He declared for the NFL Draft earlier this month.

Wetjen was the 2024 Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year, a first-team All-Big Ten selection and is a finalist for the Jet Award. He leads the nation with 888 combined kick return yards (next most is 674 yards). Wetjen (5-foot-10, 196 pounds) is second in the FBS in punt return yards (312) and sixth in kickoff return yards (576). The native of Williamsburg, Iowa, native had an 85-yard punt return for a score against Northwestern, the seventh-longest in school history.

The Hawkeyes will play No. 19 Missouri on Dec. 30, 2024, in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl in Nashville. The game will start at 1:30 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on ESPN. 

IOWA -- FWAA ALL-AMERICAN STREAK
2013: OL Brandon Scherff (second)
2014: OL Brandon Scherff (first)
2015: DB Desmond King (first)
2016: DB Desmond King (second)
2017: DB Josh Jackson (first); LB Josey Jewell (first)
2018: TE T.J. Hocksenson (second)
2019: PK Keith Duncan (first); OL Tristan Wifs (first)
2020: DL Daviyon Nixon (first); C Tyler Linderbaum (second)
2021: C Tyler Linderbaum (first); LB Jack Campbell (second)
2022: LB Jack Campbell (first); P Tory Taylor (first)
2023: DB Cooper DeJean (first); LB Jay Higgins (first); P Tory Taylor (first)
2024: LB Jay Higgins (first); RB Kaleb Johnson (first); PR Kaden Wetjen (first)

2024 IOWA POSTSEASON ALL-AMERICA NATIONAL HONORS
LUKE ELKIN: AFCA (first team)
JAY HIGGINS: Walter Camp, AFCA, AP, FWAA, CBS, The Athletic (first team)
KALEB JOHNSON: FWAA, Walter Camp (first team); AFCA, AP, CBS, The Athletic (second team), Pro Football Focus
KADEN WETJEN: FWAA (first team)