Higgins, Johnson named Walter Camp All Americans
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.
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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.
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
