Hawkeyes on B1G Stage at Media Day

INDIANAPOLIS - A strong argument could be made that no position on the Iowa Football team has changed more than linebacker. At this time last year, all three of the Hawkeye starters were on the Butkus Award watch list.

That trio is gone. Jack Campbell and Seth Benson are starting NFL training camp soon. Jestin Jacobs is at Oregon.

Top back-up Jay Higgins returns. The fifth-year senior sees a lot of potential in his group.

"I'm personally excited to get out there and show guys what I can do. I've been learning for a long time now behind a great linebacker (Campbell)," he said while back here in his hometown Wednesday at Big Ten Media Day. "Everyone in that room is excited to show what we can do."

Higgins (6-2, 233) started two games last season in place of an injured Benson. He totaled 39.0 tackles (20 solo, 1.5 for loss).

Iowa landed all-ACC linebacker Nick Jackson (6-0, 237) from the transfer portal this offseason. He joined the program after the spring semester. Coach Kirk Ferentz said here that he expected Jackson to start.

Jackson and Higgins have hit it off. They're rooming together and leading a room.

"He reminds me a lot that he has his degree," Higgins said. "So, he's got that on me."

Higgins said the new guy is a great fit.

"It feels like he's been in the Iowa program for the last four years," he said of Jackson.

After Higgins and Jackson, walk-on Kyler Fisher is the only other guy at the position with meaningful college reps on his resume. There's a pack of third-year sophomores along with freshmen competing for potential playing time on defense and special teams.

"I would say Jaxon Rexroth, Zach Twedt, (Kelby) Tealander, (Jaden) Harrell, (Karson) Sharar, that class right there, they're starting to pick up on what's a Hawkeye linebacker," Higgins said. "The dedication and the amount of film that goes into it, and the social aspect and the sacrifice of being a college athlete, what it's truly about."

Higgins sees promise in the freshmen class, too. It includes second-year players, Landyn Van Kekerix and Jayden Montgomery, and newcomers Aidan Hall and Ben Kueter, the latter also a big Hawkeye wrestling recruit.

"I tell him I'll wrestle him in the locker room knowing I'll never try to do that," Higgins said. "But he's one of those guys who knows that details matter; always asking what he could have done better. He's really trying to learn, and I appreciate that."

Breakout Players Elsewhere on Defense

Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean was asked here who he thought could be a breakout player on this year's team. The preseason conference defensive player of the year picked two guys.

"Xavier Nwankpa, he got his feet wet in the bowl game. He took a lot of steps forward this spring as did Aaron Graves. He plays with a lot of confidence. I'm looking forward to watching those two guys this season," DeJean said.

Wardrobe Choice

Hawkeye tight end Luke Lachey was trying to pick out a shirt earlier this week. He consulted his girlfriend. They landed on a "Tight End U" number, which represents a brand created by another former Iowa player at the position, George Kittle.

"I said I'd go with the tight end shirt. It will be good for George. It's not only good for George but the brand of tight end. I wanted to represent the guys in the building at Iowa, too," Lachey said.

With former Hawkeye and NFL rookie Sam LaPorta competing for the starting tight end job with the Detroit Lions this summer, Lachey is expected to step into a much larger role with the Hawkeyes. He understands the responsibility of upholding a great tradition in the program.

"I feel really confident in my abilities. And that's the main thing. I think the one thing is you got to be confident in what you're doing. The last couple games last year, I had more opportunity (with LaPorta injured) to play, and I think that really helped for this season," Lachey said.

Noah's Arc

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz heaped praise on Noah Shannon. The sixth-year senior defensive tackle was supposed to be in Indianapolis. He backed out because he's part of a gambling investigation. Higgins replaced him.

"I'm a big fan of Noah Shannon," Higgins said. "I think if you went around the facility, you'd get the same answer from everybody."

Shannon was down in the dumps, feeling he let down teammates, Ferentz said. Higgins said the Hawkeyes have been trying to pick him up.

"I feel like with every setback it's just another opportunity for our team to become closer. Whenever there's a problem in the program, the players are the ones that back each other up. We're the guys that come closer together," Higgins said.

Any potential gambling violations against several members of the team seem to be being considered minor. That said, information on the inquiry is limited.

Honored

DeJean was one of 10 student-athletes named to the Big Ten's preseason honor roll. He also was tabbed as the conference's preseason defensive player of the year. His picture has appeared on preseason college football magazines.

A lot is expected from the third-year junior out of Odebolt, Iowa, population 998.

"I like pressure. I'm just going to keep being myself. I feel like that's the best I can do, keep getting better at football and fixing the mistakes I made last year and helping this team win," he said.

Confidence in Iowa's Offense

Lachey talked about the power of having confidence. He believed he had it and felt the same way about the offense as a whole.

Through transfer portal additions on that side of the ball, including starter quarterback Cade McNamara, and development by the returnees, the tight end expects major improvements. Iowa is coming off a season in which it statistically was one of the worst units in the country.

"I feel like (coordinator) Brian Ferentz has made a lot of good changes with the offense," Lachey said. "I've seen a lot of good things I really like. Getting new guys and guys coming back, ready to go, I think that's the biggest thing."

Lachey indicated that he sees some schematic changes. He noticed tweaks elsewhere. Some alterations were dictated by having different personnel than a year ago.

"I don't want to speak for Brian, but I'm sure he wants to look at the guys he has and do whatever it takes to help the team win," Lachey said.

Higginized

With Jay back in Indianapolis, his father, Roy Higgins III, who's become a celebrity, of sorts with the Iowa fan base, met up with his son. Jay delivered the bad news.

"He was convinced that he would be in your position now," Jay told reporters. "He thought he'd be on the field talking to me. I told him that there's a little bit more security that goes on. They can't just let people off the streets of Indianapolis.

"But he's really excited for me. He's always been one of my biggest supporters."