Jay Higgins named semfinalist for Lombardi Award

University of Iowa senior Jay Higgins has been named a 2024 Lombardi Award semifinalist, it was announced Thursday.

The award is presented to the college player who best embodies the values and spirit of legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi. These qualities are include character, discipline and excellence both on and off the football field.

Higgins is also a semifinalist for the Butkus Award and a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. He 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.

The Indianapolis native has 69 tackles in six Big Ten games, averaging 11.4 tackles per contest. Higgins is six tackles shy of reaching 100 for the season. The last Hawkeye to record back-to-back 100-tackle seasons was Jack Campbell in 2021 and 2022.

Finalists for the award will be announced in December.