The heartbeat of the Iowa Hawkeyes comes from two individuals who are spurring this team on from each side of the ball.
On offense, they are led by Kaleb Johnson who is experiencing a breakout year and is among the nation’s best running backs. On defense, Jay Higgins is the heart and soul of a stout unit with his ability to do it all.
Both players have been dominant for Iowa through their first six games. Their performances have them on CBS Sports’ list of the top 100 players in college football at the midway point of the season with both inside the top 50.
43. Iowa LB Jay Higgins (No. 21)
Higgins has been consistently excellent for the stingy Hawkeye defense for two seasons. He’s been racking up double-digit tackles again this season, averaging 14 tackles over the last two weeks. Higgins has also forced two fumbles and intercepted two passes, making him a must-watch player known for his consistency and attention to detail in all phases of the game. – Blake Brockenmeyer, CBS Sports
Jay Higgins is all over on defense this year. He is always there to clean up the tackles in the middle of the field, but his athleticism has been on display more than ever before.
He leads Iowa with 62 total tackles while also having one tackle for loss, a sack, two interceptions, two pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
38. Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson (NR)
Johnson is a great zone runner with excellent vision and speed, attacking the hole with burst. He has 25 explosive runs and more than 660 yards after contact, making him the nation’s second-leading rusher while averaging almost eight yards per carry. Johnson also has 12 receptions and a touchdown in the passing game. – Brockenmeyer, CBS Sports
Arguably one of the biggest breakout stars in all of college football, Kaleb Johnson has become a household name. He has gone from a rotational back to the second-leading rusher in college football.
Not only does Johnson grind out yards, but his homerun ability is also undeniable as he averages 7.9 yards per carry.
Kaleb Johnson has run for 937 yards and 12 touchdowns on 118 carries He has also already set a career-high receptions as he has hauled in 12 catches so far with one receiving touchdown.
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