(Iowa City, IA) – The Iowa football team has announced that linebacker Jay Higgins was named to the 2023 Duke Slater Golden Gavel Award. This award is voted by members of the Iowa media who cover the Hawkeyes regularly.
Higgins has earned over 10 awards already for his performance in the 2023 season. He leads the team in tackles with 155 which ranks first in the Big Ten while also ranking second in the nation. The senior also ranks sixth in the Big Ten in assisted tackles with 90 and fourth in solo tackles with 65.
The Indianapolis native’s professionalism was always impressive with the media and was truly a remarkable man in what he did. Those are words from Scott Dochterman from The Athletic who voted on Higgins to earn the award.
This award is named after Duke Slater who earned his degree from Iowa while playing in the NFL. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and was a 2021 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Slater earned his name on the playing surface at Kinnick Stadium in 2021.
Higgins is now the third Iowa Hawkeye to earn the award including Kaevon Merriweather and Spencer Petras.
