(Iowa City, IA) The University of Iowa had four football players named to the Athlon preseason All-American list for the upcoming 2024 football season. Linebacker Jay Higgins was named to the first-team, linebacker Nick Jackson received second-team honors, center Logan Jones was selected to third-team and defensive back Sebastian Castro was selected to fourth-team.
Iowa also had 14 players named to the preseason All-Big-Ten teams by Athlon. Higgins, Jackson, and Jones were all selected to first-team. Tight end Luke Lachey, guard Connor Colby, defensive tackle Yahya Black, defensive back Quinn Schulte and Castro were all named to second-team. Defensive end Deontae Craig and defensive back Xavier Nwankpa received third team honors. Running back Leshon Wiliams, offensive tackle Mason Richman, defensive back Jermari Harris and kicker Drew Stevens were selected to fourth-team.
Higgins was named a preseason first-team All-American and preseason National Defensive Player of the Year by Phil Steele. The senior tied the program record for tackles a season ago with 171, leading the Big Ten and third in the country.
Jackson received his second All-American honor after having 110 tackles in his first season with the Hawks. The Virginia transfer has tallied 464 tackles throughout his career, 113 tackles from tying the all-time NCAA record.
Jones earned the second third-team All-American honor starting 13 games at center in 2023. Jones was also third-team All-Big Ten last season.
Castro received his first preseason All-America honor this year after 67 tackles, three interceptions and eight pass breakups last year. The senior earned Pro Football Focus first-team All-America and Associated Press third-team honors in 2023.
All information on this article was gathered from the Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics page.
