Higgins, Johnson Tabbed Walter Camp All-America

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Two University of Iowa football players — junior running back Kaleb Johnson and senior linebacker Jay Higgins — have been named Walter Camp First-Team All-Americans, it was announced Thursday by the Walter Camp Foundation.

The Hawkeyes have had at least one Walter Camp All-American (first or second team) over the past 11 seasons, dating back to 2014. Iowa has the longest active streak nationally of having a first-team All-American (2019-24). The Hawkeyes have had multiple Walter Camp honorees in five of the last six years, including the last two seasons with multiple first-team selections.

Walter Camp, the nation’s oldest college football All-America team, is one of five outlets recognized by the NCAA to determine consensus All-Americans (Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Sporting News, Associated Press).

Higgins earns Walter Camp All-America honors for a second straight year, after earning second team distinction in 2023. Higgins (6-foot-2, 232 pounds) has been recognized as the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten. Higgins, who was a semifinalist for three national awards (Lombardi, Butkus, Lott IMPACT), 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 has been a tackling machine for Iowa’s defense, racking 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, who was honored as the Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten and a Doak Walker Award finalist, had a historic year. 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. He 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.

The 2024 American Football Coaches Association FBS Coaches’ All-America teams will be announced on Friday.

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
JAY HIGGINS: Walter Camp, CBS, The Athletic (first team)
KALEB JOHNSON: Walter Camp (first team); CBS, The Athletic (second team), Pro Football Focus