Iowa’s Nick Jackson, Jay Higgins build chemistry as they try to ‘withhold the standard’ at linebacker

IOWA CITY — Jay Higgins remembers some of the interactions in the linebacker room on Sundays with Jack Campbell, Seth Benson and position coach Seth Wallace as they watched film last year. “Coach Wallace would be like, ‘Well, how did you know Campbell was going to do that, Benson?’ Or, ‘How did you know Benson was going to do that?’” Higgins said. Whether it was the pre-play communication or other “things that we didn’t practice,” Campbell and Benson’s chemistry was clearly on display. “They were best friends off the field, so it only made sense how close they were on the field,” Higgins said. Now that Campbell is a Detroit Lion and Benson is a Denver Bronco, Higgins is trying to replicate their communication and chemistry as a leader on Iowa football’s new-look linebacker corps. “That constant chatter before plays, after plays — I feel like that only happens when guys are on the same page,” Higgins said. “When we are on the same page, especially in the linebacker room, good things can happen.” Nick Jackson, a graduate transfer from Virginia, will likely take the middle linebacker spot after leading the ACC with 10.4 tackles per game in 2022. Higgins, after making his first career start in 2022, will likely be at weakside linebacker. Kyler Fisher, Karson Sharar and Jaden Harrell are among other linebackers who could be in the mix. As Jackson and Higgins work to replace Campbell and Benson, they won’t necessarily be exactly the next Jack Campbell and the next Seth Benson. “He’s an unbelievable talent,” Jackson said. “Him and Seth Benson. … I don’t think there really is filling in shoes like that, from the leadership that he brought and everything he brought to this program.” Instead, Jackson’s focus is “about being me and maximizing myself and trying to withhold the standard” Campbell and Benson set. “I’m not Jack Campbell, but at the same time, there’s a standard to withhold within Iowa’s defense and playing linebacker here that I have to maintain,” Jackson said. The new linebacker corps’ bonding goes beyond just Jackson and Higgins, as was evident during a recent cookout. “One person’s on the grill,” Higgins said. “Then two people go to the grill. Next thing you know, you have eight linebackers trying to cook on the grill. … Probably not how you’re supposed to cook on the grill, but I bought $80 propane, and we just had a good time.” Jackson and Higgins will soon live together along with Fisher and defensive lineman Deontae Craig. Along with a bonding experience for four players who have the potential to be starters on the 2023 defense, the arrangement will come with a big perk for Craig and his dog Kobie. “The most exciting thing is the fenced-in backyard,” Craig said. Higgins, Jackson and Craig are not afraid of giving each other a hard time. “He reminds me a lot about who he played in the ACC,” Higgins said. “We played Madden the other day, and he loves to call out the ACC prospects.” Jackson’s ACC background shows up “sometimes in the weight room” too, Craig said jokingly. “He ain’t lifting as much as some of us,” Craig said. ”Nah, I’m kidding. But I joke with him all the time that this ain’t the ACC anymore.” Jackson singled out Higgins as someone he has particularly gotten close with while at Iowa, “sadly.” “No, I’m kidding,” Jackson said. “Jay Higgins has been amazing.” Jackson graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in commerce, but his economics background did not seem to be on display during Higgins and Jackson’s recent visit to Menards. “He sat in a chair that was $600, and he said he wanted it,” Higgins said. “But I convinced him that financially that wasn’t the plan to go.” All jokes aside, Jackson’s approach to microeconomics and macroeconomics has translated well on the field. “You can’t learn macro until you learn micro,” Jackson said. “You can’t understand the big picture until you understand the small picture.” The big picture has looked rosy for the Hawkeyes’ defense in recent years. Iowa allowed 3.99 yards per play last year — the fewest yards allowed by any FBS defense in the last five seasons. Higgins recognizes the importance of the linebacker corps in continuing that success. “If Iowa’s defense is where it should be, it’s usually because the linebackers are playing good,” Higgins said. “If they tell us we’re a top-two, top-one, top-three defense, I’m probably playing good.” If the results from Iowa’s linebacker corps are what Higgins and Co. are hoping for, Jackson could be experiencing something this winter he has not experienced in a long time. The Virginia transfer has been on teams that have gone a combined 14-18 in the last three seasons. The 2019 Orange Bowl team was the Cavaliers’ last squad with a record above .500. Jackson was a true freshman at the time. “Playing in that Orange Bowl was a very proud moment of my life,” Jackson said. “Getting back to that would mean a lot. … Those are the types of games that you aspire to.” Jackson, who was a team captain at Virginia, is not looking too far ahead in June, though. “That’s an attainable goal, but there’s processes and steps in between that you have to achieve to get there,” Jackson said. Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com