Hawk Item – – One of nine seniors named to 2023 Player Council… one of six juniors named to 2022 Player Council… one of eight true freshmen to see action in 2020, playing in six games.
2023 Honors – – First team All-Big Ten by league coaches and media… midseason first team All-American by FOX and the Sporting News… Associated Press midseason second team All-American… named to Rotary Lombardi Award midseason Watch List… Butkus Award semifinalist… 2023 – – Leads team with 141 tackles (60 solo, 81 assists) on the season, which leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the nation (most by a Power 5 player)… leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth in the nation in assisted tackles (81), and ranks second in the Big Ten in fumbles recovered (2) and fourth in solo tackles (60)… also has four tackles for a loss of six yards, including one QB sack for two yards, one interception, four pass break-ups, three QB pressures, and one forced fumble on the season… his 141 tackles on the season ties for sixth in program history… recorded 15+ tackles in two games and 10+ tackles in eight games this season… led team with a career-high 18 tackles (10 solo, eight assists) in 31-0 loss at Penn State… that tackle number was the most recorded by a Hawkeye since 2012… led team with 16 tackles (12 solo, 4 assists) and one pass break-up in season-opening 24-14 win over Utah State… led team with 14 tackles (two solo, career-high 12 assists), including 0.5 tackles for a loss of one yard, and one QB pressure in 12-10 loss vs. Minnesota… led team with 13 tackles (seven solo, six assists) and forced one fumble in 15-6 win at Wisconsin… led team with 12 tackles (six solo, six assists) and one pass break-up in 15-13 win over Illinois… led team with 12 tackles (four solo, eight assists) in 26-16 win vs. Michigan State… led team with 12 tackles and recorded his first career interception in 20-14 win over Purdue… led team with 12 tackles (six solo, six assists), including one QB sack for two yards and two tackles for a loss of three yards, in 10-7 win at Northwestern… collected a team-high nine tackles (four solo, five assists), first forced fumble of his career and one QB pressure in 41-10 win over Western Michigan… led team with eight tackles (two solo, six assists), including one tackle for a loss of one yard, in 22-0 win over Rutgers… had eight tackles (three solo, five assists), including 0.5 tackles for a loss of one yard, one fumble recovery and one QB pressure in 13-10 win at Nebraska… tallied seven tackles (two solo, five assists) and one pass break-up in 20-13 win at Iowa State… started at middle linebacker in all 12 games.
2022 Honors – – Hayden Fry Award, special teams… Next Man In Award, defense… 2022 – – Played in 12 games, starting at leo/cash position vs. Wisconsin… recorded 39 tackles (20 solo, 19 assists), including 1.5 tackles for loss and .5 QB sacks… posted a season-high 11 tackles in 33-13 win over Northwestern (six solo, and five assists)… collected seven tackles in 27-14 loss to #4 Michigan (four solo, three assists) including a shared tackle for loss… had five tackles in 27-10 win at Rutgers (two solo, three assists), with a shared tackle for loss and QB sack… collected two tackles in 24-10 win over Wisconsin (one solo, one assist), recovered blocked punt and had three-yard return that led to Iowa’s first touchdown… tallied four tackles in 24-3 win at Purdue (three solo, one assist)… recorded four tackles in 13-10 win at Minnesota, including three solo tackles and one assist.
2021 – – Played in all 14 games, recording five tackles (three solo, two assists)… recorded with two solo tackles in 51-14 win at Maryland , while adding first career fumble recovery on special teams that led to Iowa touchdown.
2020 – – Played in six games, recording two solo tackles in 35-7 win at Minnesota for first career statistics.
High School Honors – – Named to All-State Top 50 as a junior and senior… first-team all-state, all-conference, and all-county as a junior and senior… earned all-state and all-conference honors as a sophomore… Career – – Four-year football letterman as linebacker and tight end… team captain as a junior and senior… helped prep team reach state championship game as a sophomore and state regionals as a junior… three-year prep record of 27-11… ranked in the top 10 nationally in tackles as a senior… holds school record with 471 career tackles… led conference in tackles for three consecutive seasons… had 151 tackles, five pass break-ups, and three forced fumbles as a senior… finished with 145 tackles, three pass break-ups, three forced fumbles, and an interception return for a touchdown as a junior… had 158 tackles and four forced fumbles as a sophomore… had 17 tackles as a freshman… also earned three letters in basketball.
Personal – – Born 2/14/02… open major… parents are Shelley and Roy Higgins… high school coach was Mic Roessler.