Sporting News Recognizes 3 Hawkeyes

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 recognized on Wednesday as All-Americans by Sporting News. Johnson and Johnson are first team honorees, while Wetjen is a second team selection.

As a result, Higgins is a unanimous consensus All-American, while Johnson is a consensus All-American. Johnson was a first team All-America honoree by Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News, and second team by the Associated Press (AP) and American Football Coaches Association of America (AFCA). Iowa is the only school to have a consensus All-American each of the last six seasons.

Iowa now has 33 consensus All-Americans in program history, including 18 in the Kirk Ferentz era and 12 over the last 11 seasons. The Hawkeyes have had multiple consensus All-Americans seven times in program history (1981, 1984, 2002, 2003, 2017, 2023 and 2024).

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.

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 also tabbed a first-team All-American punt returner by FWAA yesterday, and was previously awarded the 2024 Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten 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. 

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