Ourlads' Profile:
2025 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about JAY HIGGINS IV:
Iowa | Hometown: Indianapolis, IN | HT: 6001 | WT: 224 | 40 time: 4.82 | Hand: 0912 | Arm: 3100 | Wing: 7500
Two year starter. First team All-Big 10 in 2023 and 2024. Consensus All-America and Butkus-Fitzgerald Award for the Big 10’s best linebacker. Solid compact frame with good power. High energy player with a solid football IQ and an instinctive nose for the ball. Has been an outstanding special team player his whole career along with starting at two linebacker spots in the Iowa defense starting in 2023. Was a team leader and quarterback of the Iowa defense. Solid initial key read and react with quick and normally precise inside run fits. Gets downhill in a hurry and makes quick adjustments in traffic. Powerful taking on blocks with a quick strong punch to stack and shed. Adept at working through blocks on the move to gain ball side leverage. Hustle puts him always around the ball playing to the whistle. Hot motor gives him sideline to sideline pursuit ability. Has above average lateral movement but is more effective coming downhill. Takes good angles in pursuit and leverages ball carriers to make plays in space. Physical fundamental tackling skill he squares up tackles with gather, drive, and finish. Solid zone defender with depth of drop and a feel for route combinations. Gets a good read on the delivery key and is consistent stressing throwing lanes. He’s a little tight-hipped and there’s some segmentation changing direction. In man coverage he can’t be consistently relied on to match a shifty back. Can be too aggressive at times getting out of position. Size and speed may be a concern at the next level as instincts and motor covered up his deficiencies in college. He may not test well or have great metrics, but he’s too productive to ignore. His floor is a backup Will with special team value.
2024 Stats: 124 T, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 5 PBU, 6 QBH, 2 FF, 4 INT. OSR:34/35. 10-1.69. Draft projection: 5th-6th round