Iowa Star's Brutal Combine May Destroy NFL Draft Stock

This Iowa Hawkeyes star did not exactly put forth a great showing at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Feb 27, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins (LB08) participates in drills during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Jay Higgins was unquestionably fun to watch the last couple of seasons, s stamping his name among the best defenders in the country.

This past year, Higgins was so dominant that he won the Butkus-Fitzgerald award for the Big Ten's best linebacker. That came after totaling 124 tackles and four interceptions.

As a result, many felt that the 22-year-old could ultimately shoot up to a Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft, but there were legitimate concerns about his lack of size and athleticism.

Well, that was on full display at the NFL Scouting Combine, as Higgins' brutal showing may have torpedoed his draft stock.

Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski listed Higgins among the defensive players who fell short of expectations at the combine, and the numbers weren't pretty.

"The former Hawkeye had the lowest combine IQ athleticism score among linebackers by nearly 10 points, with a mark of 52 while clocking a 4.82-second 40-yard dash, the slowest time of the position group," Sobleski wrote.

While Higgins' shoddy athleticism shouldn't come as too much of a surprise considering that was always viewed as a major concern, the fact that Higgins ranked at the bottom of the linebacker pool is definitely a bucet of ice water.

The Iowa product will definitely hear his name called this April. He was too productive on the collegiate level not to, and his tremendous motor and instinctive nose for the ball are absolutely impressive qualities.

But unfortunately, it's looking like the chances of Higgins being a potential third-round pick are getting slimmer and slimmer by the day.

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