Jay Higgins is UNANIMOUS 1st Team All American. Kirk Ferentz has coached 13 of IOWA's 16 Unanimous & 18 of IOWA's 33 Consensus 1st Team All Americans

[Franisdaman]

Dec 18 Update:

Last season Tory Taylor and Cooper DeJean become the 14th and 15th unanimous consensus All-Americans in Iowa history.

Today, Jay becomes the 16th.

Kirk Ferentz has coached 13 of the 16.

Original Post (Dec 16):

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[NevadaHawk]

So happy for Jay! One of the great Hawkeyes of all time!

 

[desihawk]

Incredible story. What a motor. With his measurables, insane achievement.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[rfgiowa]

Outstanding! Cheers and GO HAWKS!

 

[desihawk]

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TEU
CBU
LBU

 

[Old_wrestling_fan]

Awesome!! Major congrats to Jay!! I especially like that he stayed here when so many others in his shoes would have transferred a couple of years ago. Was he also a consensus AA last year? If so, does his name get added to the "Ring" of names at Kinnick?

 

[Hawk_4shur]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[kceasthawk]

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Wow. LBU. Jewell to two pretty good ones in Armani Jones and Kristian Welch, to Captain Jack Campbell to Jay Hig. Next man in Jaden Harrell!

 

[jonesy5960]

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Jabez? This is like it was when I found out Kramer's first name was Cosmo.

Anywho, couldn't happen to a nicer more loyal Hawkeye than Higgins and his superfan dad. Congratulations to all involved in making a great story happen!

 

[hahkize]

Jabez? This is like it was when I found out Kramer's first name was Cosmo.

Anywho, couldn't happen to a nicer more loyal Hawkeye than Higgins and his superfan dad. Congratulations to all involved in making a great story happen!

Jabez is a man in the Bible's Book of Chronicles who is known for his prayer to God and is thought to be an ancestor of the Kings of Judah:

The Prayer of Jabez – 1 Chronicles 4:9-10​

• Name
  His mother named him Jabez, which means "he makes sorrowful" in Hebrew, because his birth was difficult.
  

• Prayer
  Jabez prayed to God, asking for blessings, protection, and an expansion of his territory. God granted his request.
  
  
  
• Legacy
  Jabez is thought to have been a prominent leader who left behind many disciples. The city where the scribes lived was named after him because of his knowledge of the law.
  

• Time period
  Scholars believe Jabez lived in Judah during the time of David and Solomon.
  

• Prayer as an example
  Jabez's prayer is considered an example of sincere prayer and seeking after God. It has encouraged many believers throughout history.
  
  

 

[hawkjt]

Congrats to Jay!
Thanks for being a great Hawkeye on and off the field.
One of our all-timers!

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

Jabez? This is like it was when I found out Kramer's first name was Cosmo.

Anywho, couldn't happen to a nicer more loyal Hawkeye than Higgins and his superfan dad. Congratulations to all involved in making a great story happen!

Agree. I didn’t know that his real name wasn’t Jay.

For the record Jabez is waaaay cooler but that’s his decision. 🙃

Just a classy kid & outstanding football player.

He just reminds me of old school linebackers for some reason.

Does anybody know if he’s playing in the bowl game?

I haven’t heard & I kind of hope he doesn’t just because him & Johnson & others were such good Hawks, so solid as players, & they finished the regular season, that they’ve earned their payday.

No sense in risking it in any bowl game anymore.

 

[mthawkeyes]

Wait. How was Shonn Greene not a consensus All American in 2008?

 

[Old_wrestling_fan]

...

Does anybody know if he’s playing in the bowl game?

...

Unless something has changed, and changed very recently, Jay will play in the bowl game.

 

[Franisdaman]

Jay Higgins is the 32nd Consensus First-Team All-American for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Kirk Ferentz has coached 17 of the 32

 

[HawkAlum2002]

Wait. How was Shonn Greene not a consensus All American in 2008?

He was, unanimous actually (only 13 have done that at Iowa I think).

 

[mthawkeyes]

He was, unanimous actually (only 13 have done that at Iowa I think).

OK. I was looking at the list in post #11 of this thread and didn't notice that #14-22 weren't visible.

 

[Franisdaman]

Wait. How was Shonn Greene not a consensus All American in 2008?

He was, unanimous actually (only 13 have done that at Iowa I think).

Last season Tory Taylor and Cooper DeJean become the 14th and 15th unanimous consensus All-Americans in Iowa history.

Kirk has coached 12 of the 15.

 

[Hawkeyesgonewild]

Congratulations jay

 

[MitchLL]

Someone should send this information to Matt Rhule.

 

[Hawk-A-Doodle-Doo]

First Team All Big Ten (coaches and media)
Big Ten LB of the Year
Consensus AA
Potential UNANIMOUS AA
Not good enough to even be a Butkus finalist.

Sure. Makes total sense.

 

[kceasthawk]

Wait. How was Shonn Greene not a consensus All American in 2008?

??? He's on the list in 2008......

 

[kceasthawk]

He was, unanimous actually (only 13 have done that at Iowa I think).

Where can you find the difference between consensus and unanimous?

 

[Hawk-A-Doodle-Doo]

Where can you find the difference between consensus and unanimous?

Unanimous All American is when you are first team on all five of the recognized lists...
AP
American Football Coaches Assoc.
Football Writers Assoc. of America
Walter Camp
Sporting News

Consensus is when you are first team on at least 3 of those lists. Technically "consensus" is defined as being first team on half of the recognized lists. But there are five, so....

 

[Titanhawk2]

OK. I was looking at the list in post #11 of this thread and didn't notice that #14-22 weren't visible.

OP is that it is now 11 years in a row with a consensus AA

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I agree with Seth ... really impressed with Jay's story. A few years back, he was the #4 LB behind Campbell, Benson, and Jacobs ... fast forward a few years ... he's been a 2 year starter with production in 2-seasons that some guys don't get in 3 or 4-years starting. Immense production, great leadership, and sounds like a great guy too. Kudos to you Jay ... we celebrate you and your accomplishments!

 

[ltsimmer]

First Team All Big Ten (coaches and media)
Big Ten LB of the Year
Consensus AA
Potential UNANIMOUS AA
Not good enough to even be a Butkus finalist.

Sure. Makes total sense.

...and also, Matt Rhule didn't know who he was.

 

[Hawk-A-Doodle-Doo]

Jay Higgins, Kaleb Johnson, Kaden Wetjen: Football Writers Association of America First Team All Americans

4 down and 1 to go (Sporting News) for Jay to achieve the coveted Unanimous AA honor.

Iowa the only school with three on the first team.

Oh, and P.S. - Butkus winner didn't even make Second Team. You know, in case you're keeping score at home......and stuff and junk.

 

[83Hawk]

Good for him!

 

[HawkAlum2002]

Jay Higgins, Kaleb Johnson, Kaden Wetjen: Football Writers Association of America First Team All Americans

4 down and 1 to go (Sporting News) for Jay to achieve the coveted Unanimous AA honor.

Iowa the only school with three on the first team.

Oh, and P.S. - Butkus winner didn't even make Second Team. You know, in case you're keeping score at home......and stuff and junk.

If Kaleb gets first team Sporting News, he gets consensus status. Fingers crossed!

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[swihawk]

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Helluva accomplishment

 

[SDHawkDoc]

He's an old school throwback linebacker. One of the most relentless motors Phil's ever had on his D.
He's also conducted himself with class. That makes him even more elite in today's game.
I don't expect him to be drafted high given his measureables. But I think some NFL team will be getting a great addition to their org. Really rooting for him to thrive in the league.

 

[Franisdaman]

It all started with great parenting.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]