IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior RB Kaleb Johnson and senior LB Jay Higgins were named Roy J. Carver Most Valuable Players as the Iowa football program announced its 2024 team awards Sunday.

Higgins has been recognized as an American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Walter Camp first-team All-American, Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten. Higgins, who was a semifinalist for three national awards (Lombardi, Butkus, Lott IMPACT), is the only player in the nation with 100+ tackles and four interceptions. His four picks are tied for the 0most amongst linebackers from a Power 4 conference. Higgins has been a tackling machine for Iowa’s defense, racking up 118 tackles — second most in the Big Ten, 13th-most nationally. The Indianapolis native has been a leader on an Iowa defense that is ninth nationally, allowing 17.1 points per game.

Johnson, who was previously honored as an AFCA and Walter Camp All-American, Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten and a Doak Walker Award finalist, had a historic year. He posted school single-season records in points (138), total touchdowns (23) and rushing scores (21). Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards in 12 games in 2024, sixth-most in the country and third-most in program history. The native of Hamilton, Ohio, scored at least one touchdown in all 12 regular season games — the longest stretch in school history. He had seven games in 2024 with two or more rushing touchdowns, believed to be the most in a single season in program history.

Five permenent team captains were named, including senior TE Luke Lachey and senior C Logan Jones on offense, Higgins and senior FS Quinn Schulte on defense, and senior LS Luke Elkin on special teams. Jones was also recognized with the Iron Hawk Award.

Lachey has played in 11 games in 2024, leading Iowa’s tight ends and ranking second overall, with 27 receptions and 227 receiving yards. Lachey was a team captain in all 12 regular-season games in 2024 and is a two-time honorable mention Big Ten honoree.

Jones, who started all 12 games, was a first-team all-conference selection last week. The native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, anchored the Hawkeye offensive line, that allowed just 15 sacks and helped Iowa rush for 2,599 yards, the most since 2002.

Schulte ranks third on the team with 57 tackles as Iowa’s free safety. He also has three interceptions and three pass break-ups. Schulte was a team captain in all 12 regular season games in 2024 and is a two-time honorable mention all-conference honoree. Schulte has made 39 consecutive starts (fifth-longest nationally among DBs).

Elkin, who has been Iowa’s long snapper the past four seasons, was previously honored as a 2024 first-team AFCA All-American and second-team All-Big Ten selection. He snapped for Dakin and Stevens, as well as Tory Taylor, the Ray Guy Award recipient and consensus All-American in 2023.

The Hayden Fry “Extra Heartbeat” Award was shared by Iowa’s five starting offensive linemen: Jones, senior tackle Mason Richman, junior tackle Gennings Dunker, junior guard Beau Stephens and senior guard Connor Colby on offense, Higgins, senior LB Nick Jackson, senior DE Deontae Craig, senior DE Ethan Hurkett and senior DT Yahya Black on defense, and Elkin and LB Kyler Fisher on special teams. The Hayden Fry Award is presented to team members who show exemplary leadership and dedication throughout the year as well as the offseason.

The Hawkeye offensive line was a Joe Moore Award semifinalist, which recognizes the top offensive line in the country. Jones and Colby earned first-team all-conference recognition, Dunker was honored on the second team, while Richman and Stephens both were honorable mention All-Big Ten.

Jackson amassed 83 tackles to rank second on the team and 11th in the Big Ten. He also accumulated five tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks, five hurries, returned an interception 28 yards and tied for first on the team with seven pass break-ups. Craig, Hurkett and Black each started all 12 games on the defensive line in 2024. Craig has 38 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and one sack, had six hurries and one pass break-up. Hurkett leads all defensive linemen, and ranks fourth on the team, with 55 tackles. He leads the team with 11.5 tackles for loss, including 6.5 sacks, while also forcing three fumbles and registering two hurries. Black has registered 31 tackles, including five for loss and one sack, recorded Iowa’s only blocked kick of the season (field goal versus Washington), and two hurries and two pass break-ups. Fisher has 25 tackles (16 solo, nine assists), including two tackles for a loss of six yards, one forced fumble, and one pass break-up.

The Brett Greenwood Award was shared by Elkin, senior FB Hayden Large, RS Kaden Wetjen, and junior WR Max White. Established in 2011, the Greenwood Award goes to former walk-ons who embodies the values and behaviors of former Hawkeye walk-on Brett Greenwood. These student-athletes have made a significant contribution to the team through persistence, determination, commitment, preparation and action.

White and Large played in 12 and 11 games, respectively, in 2024. Wetjen, who is the 2024 Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year, a first-team All-Big Ten selection and finalist for the Jet Award, leads the nation with 888 combined kick return yards (next most is 674 yards). He is second in the FBS in punt return yards (312) and sixth in kickoff return yards (576). The native of Williamsburg, Iowa, native had an 85-yard punt return for a score against Northwestern, the seventh-longest in school history.

Lachey received the Forest Evashevski Academic Achievement Award. Lachey, who was a 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy nominee, graduated last May with a degree in enterprise leadership and a 3.74 grade point average. He is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, three-time recipient of the Presidential Committee on Academic Medallion, three-time Dean’s List and named to the President’s List once.

The Reggie Roby Special Teams Award was shared by junior PK Drew Stevens (specialist) and Wetjen (overall). Stevens, a two-time all-league honoree, connected on 19-of-22 field goals as in 2024. He tied the school-record with five made field goals in Iowa’s win at Maryland and converting two field goals, including a 53-yard game winner as time expired, in the regular season finale versus Nebraska. Stevens has made a school-record eight field goals of 50 yards or more in his career, while his 1.58 field goals made per game in 2024 rank second best in the Big Ten and 15th nationally.

Eight Hawkeyes earned the Next Man In Award: junior QB Brendan Sullivan, senior OT Nick DeJong, senior OG Tyler Elsbury, junior TE Johnny Pascuzzi and sophomore RB Kamari Moulton on offense; DB TJ Hall on defense; and WR Alex Eichmann, DB Jaylen Watson and LB Landyn Van Kekerix on special teams.

Sullivan has played in nine games, including two starts. He has completed 24-of-35 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns, and 35 rushes for 144 yards and four touchdowns in 2024. When he is under center, Iowa is 16-of-16 in red zone scoring opportunities (14 touchdowns, two field goals). DeJong and Elsbury both played in 12 games, including two starts, in 2024. Hall played in 11 games, including six starts, amassing 17 tackles, two pass break-ups and intercepting one pass. Moulton saw action in 11 games, rushing 70 times for 377 yards and two scores, including a crucial 68-yard touchdown run at Maryland. Pascuzzi, Eichmann, Watson and Van Kekerix all saw meaningful minutes in 2024.

Coaches Appreciation Award recipients were sophomore TE Zach Ortwerth, sophomore WR Jarriett Buie and OL Kade Pieper on offense; Schulte, Fisher, senior DB Sebastian Castro and junior DT Jeremiah Pittman on defense; White, junior LB Jaxon Rexroth, sophomore LB Jayden Montgomery, junior LB Jaden Harrell, freshman punter Rhys Dakin and senior punter Ty Nissen on special teams.

Ortwerth has 10 catches for 133 yards, Buie has six receptions for 64 yards, while Pieper has seen action in 10 games. Castro’s 56 tackles were fourth most on the team. A two-time all-conference honoree, Castro also had an interception, three tackles for loss, forced two fumbles, one pass break-up and a hurry. Pittman, Rexroth, Montgomery, Harrell and Nissen all saw significant minutes in 2024. Dakin is averaging 44.2 yards on 60 punts, which ranks fifth in the Big Ten and 25th nationally. Thirty-one of his punts have been fair caught, 27 have been downed inside the 20 and 16 have traveled 50+ yards. Only five of his punts have been touchbacks.

Team Hustle Awards went to sophomore RB Jaziun Patterson, junior WR Jacob Gill and junior TE Addison Ostrenga on offense; junior DT Aaron Graves and junior DE Max Llewellyn on defense; redshirt freshman DB Zach Lutmer, sophomore DB John Nestor and junior LB Karson Sharar on special teams.

Gill leads the team in receiving with 32 catches for 382 yards and two touchdowns, Patterson has rushed 54 times for 235 yards and two touchdowns, while Ostrenga has 14 catches for 85 yards and a score. Graves had 32 tackles, including eight for loss and six sacks, forced three fumbles, and was credited with two pass break-ups and two hurries. Llewellyn has 20 tackles, including eight for loss and 5.5 sacks, three pass break-ups, seven pressures, recovered one fumble, and scored team’s first safety of the season. Lutmer, Nestor and Sharar all were key contributors on special teams.

Team Leader Awards were presented to freshman WR KJ Parker, freshman RB Brevin Doll and OL Bodey McCaslin on offense; freshman LB Derek Weisskopf, freshman DL Devan Kennedy, freshman LB Cam Buffington and senior DB Jamison Heinz; and Buffington, Doll and freshman LB Devan Van Ness on special teams.

Lachey, Stephens and junior WR Seth Anderson were presented the Comeback Player of the Year Award. All three offensive players returned to the lineup after suffering injuries and elevated their play. Anderson had 106 receiving yards on five catches (15.1 average) in seven games.

The Bump Elliott Appreciation Award was presented to Kevin and Rick Manary of Harry’s Trophies.

Brian Cassady and Chet Wieland shared the 2024 Distinguished Service Award. The duo coordinate sideline communications for the football program. Wieland is in his 14th season, while Cassady in completing his ninth year.

Iowa (8-4) will face No. 19 Missouri (9-3) in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 in Nashville (1:30 p.m. CT, ESPN). The Hawkeyes earned their 22nd bowl invite over the past 26 seasons under Moon Family Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz.

Forest Evashevski Academic Achievement: Luke Lachey

Iron Hawk Award: Logan Jones

Roy Carver Most Valuable Players: Kaleb Johnson, offense; Jay Higgins, defense

Permanent Team Captains: Luke Lachey, offense; Logan Jones, offense; Jay Higgins, defense; Quinn Schulte, defense; Luke Elkin, special teams

Hayden Fry Award: Mason Richman, offense; Beau Stephens, offense; Logan Jones, offense; Gennings Dunker, offense; Connor Colby, offense; Jay Higgins, defense; Nick Jackson, defense; Deontae Craig, defense; Ethan Hurkett, defense; Yayha Black, defense; Luke Elkin, special teams; Kyler Fisher, special teams

Reggie Roby Special Teams Award: Drew Stevens, specialist; Kaden Wetjen, overall

Team Leader Award: KJ Parker, offense; Brevin Doll, offense; Bodey McCaslin, offense; Derek Weisskopf, defense; Devan Kennedy, defense; Cam Buffington, defense; Jamison Heinz, defense; Devan Van Ness, special teams; Cam Buffington, special teams; Brevin Doll, special teams

Brett Greenwood Award: Hayden Large; Luke Elkin; Kaden Wetjen; Max White

Comeback Player of the Year: Luke Lachey; Beau Stephens; Seth Anderson

Coaches Appreciation Award: Zach Ortwerth, offense; Jarriett Buie, offense; Kade Pieper, offense; Sebastian Castro, defense; Quinn Schulte, defense; Kyler Fisher, defense; Jeremiah Pittman, defense; Jaxon Rexroth, special teams; Jayden Montgomery, special teams; Max White, special teams; Rhys Dakin, special teams; Ty Nissen, special teams; Jaden Harrell, special teams

Team Hustle Award: Jaziun Patterson, offense; Jacob Gill, offense; Addison Ostrenga, offense; Aaron Graves, defense; Max Llewellyn, defense; Zach Lutmer, special teams; John Nestor, special teams; Karson Sharar, special teams

Next Man In Award: Brendan Sullivan, offense; Nick DeJong, offense; Johnny Pascuzzi, offense; Tyler Elsbury, offense; Kamari Moulton, offense; TJ Hall, defense; Alex Eichmann, special teams; Jaylen Watson, special teams; Landyn Van Kekerix, special teams

Bump Elliott Award: Kevin and Rick Manary (Harry’s Trophies)

Distinguished Service Award: Brian Cassady and Chet Wieland

NEW YORK – Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy on Saturday, becoming the eighth player in Big 12 history to win the most prestigious award in college football. Hunter, who earned 61% of first-place votes, broke NCAA and Conference records in his junior season for the Buffaloes.

The Suwanee, Georgia native played over 600 snaps on defense and offense this season. Hunter was the Big 12 Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year while earning First Team All-Big 12 honors on offense and defense, becoming the first Big 12 player ever to receive all-conference accolades on both sides of the ball. Earlier this week, he was named the AP’s National Player of the Year, received the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player and won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the top wide receiver in the country.

As a wide receiver, Hunter ranked in the top five nationally in receptions (92), receiving yards (1,152) and receiving touchdowns (14) with his receptions and touchdown catches leading the Big 12 Conference. His 14 receiving touchdowns also set a CU program record. He also eclipsed 100 yards receiving in seven of his 12 games this season, which also set a school record.

The junior tallied four interceptions, which ranked in the top 20 nationally and tied for third in the Big 12. Hunter was also among NCAA leaders in passes defended with 11 pass break-ups to go along with his 32 tackles. With three receiving touchdowns and an interception in the Buffaloes’ regular-season finale versus Oklahoma State, the two-way star became the first player since at least 1996 to achieve that feat.

Hunter helped Colorado to a five-win improvement this season and an appearance in the Valero Alamo Bowl where the Buffs will face a Big 12 opponent in BYU on Saturday, Dec. 28 on ABC at 6:30 p.m. CT.

The Atlantic Trojans boys basketball team completed the sweep of Nodaway Valley Saturday night to earn their first win of the season. The defense was stifling, limiting the Wolverines at every turn.  Offensively, Gavin McLaren had his best game of the season to lead the team, while Reid Woodward and Shelton Mualia also played a big part in the Trojans pull-away 62-31 victory.

The first few minutes of the first quarter were contested as Atlantic struggled to gain separation. After the Trojans scored the first points of the game, Nodaway Valley’s Ty Radin responded with a pair of threes to tie the game at 6-6. However, Shelton Mualia would take over the first quarter for the Trojans, using his size and athleticism to work his way into the paint. Mualia finished the opening frame with 8 points, helping the Trojans build a 17-10 lead.

The second quarter was the slowest for the Trojans as far as offense. However, the defense stepped up for Atlantic. The second was one of just two quarters in the game where the Trojans allowed less than 10 points. In the second quarter, the Atlantic defense allowed just eight points on four field goals. Offensively, Reid Woodward was able to use his size and strength to lead Atlantic in scoring with a pair of field goals. Grant Petty would add a 3-pointer to the tally to help build the lead to 30-18 at the half.

The third quarter was the Wolverines’ best quarter of the game. They were able to put up 12 points as Titus Hamer and Garrett Welsch were two of five Wolverines to knock down a field goal. However, the second half belonged to Gavin McLaren. With the help of some good ball movement and his work inside the paint, McLaren hit five field goals in the third quarter on his way to a 10-point frame.  In addition to Mclaren’s takeoff, Hunter Nelson added a three-pointer while Kinnick Juhl sunk his first field goal of the season to help give the Trojans a 17-point lead heading into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter was a little different. Atlantic would allow just a single point on a Hamer free-throw. McLaren would score seven more points in the fourth, including knocking down his second three of the ball game. Petty, Mualia, and Conner Johnson would all join the party with field goals. Atlantic’s defense was surperb and allowed the trojans to turn defense stops into points as they grabbed their first victory of the season. Head Coach Dalton Franken was not only impressed with the multiple players who played well offensively but also with the way his defense played.

After struggling against Clarinda Gavin McLaren rebounded with his best game of the season and Franken was proud of his effort.

The Trojans are back at home Tuesday when they faceoff against Kuemper Catholic. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 pm.

The Atlantic Trojans girls basketball team kicked off Saturday night’s doubleheader against Nodaway Valley with a convincing win. The Trojans had a balanced scoring attack led by Paytn Hartr that saw three Trojans end the night with over 10 points. The defense also looked strong as they were able to limit prime scoring opportunities and forced several takeaways that resulted in fast break transitions. Atlantic was also able to use their size and rebounding to their advantage and captured their third straight victory by a final of 71-45.

The girls started the night for the Trojans. Although the Wolverines were seeking their first win, Nodaway had one of the most dominant individual producers in the state. However, it was the Trojans who got off to a great start. Atlantic started the game on an 8-0 run. However, led by Izzy Eisbach, the Wolverines answered with a 6-0 run to make it a two-point game. This would be the closest the game would be as Atlantic responded with an 11-0 run to close out the first quarter. Katrina Williams used her size to lead the scoring in the opening frame with seven points including an and-one.  Schroeder and Hartr both finished the opening frame with 6- points in what was a balanced attack for the Trojans.

The Trojans continued to press the pace in the second quarter. The second quarter was their most prolific scoring period as Atlantic was able to put up 26 points. This was in large part due to their transition game. Numerous times throughout the game Trojan defenders were able to jump passing lanes and force steals to quickly move the ball upcourt for breakaway layups. Lila Wiederstein and Zoey Kirchhoff both chipped in 3-pointers as Atlantic went to the locker room with a 45-20 lead.

Despite the large deficit, Nodaway Valley never quit. The Wolverines hit six 3-pointers in the second half, three of which came from Eisbach. However, the Trojans were more than up to the task, allowing just three other field goals during the second half. Coming into the game, Eisbach was third in the state, averaging 27.2 points per game. Although Eisbach would make her presence felt, Atlantic defended her well enough as she finished with 21 points.  Mylee Comstock also had a solid night for the Wolverines finishing with 12 points.

Although the scoring slowed down slightly for the Trojans in the second half, the offense production throughout the night was more than enough. Hartr led the game in scoring with 22 points while Schroeder finished with 19, knocking down 50% of her field goals. In addition to Williams (who finished with 13) and Wiederstein (who finished with 7) Head Coach Dan Vargason thought Schroeder was a key part of the Trojans balanced attack.

Vargason was also pleased with the aggressiveness of the defense.

The victory marks three in a row for the Trojans, as one of Vargason’s biggest takeaways was his team’s ability to play with consistency.

Atlantic will be back at home on Tuesday when they take on Kuemper Catholic.