In conjunction with our College Football’s Best series, highlighting the top plays, players, highlights, and moments from all 133 teams, we’re here to showcase the best the Iowa Hawkeyes have had to offer in 2023. Who has stood out? What units are turning heads?
And who from Iowa is among the top mentions in our College Football’s Best series this season?
Iowa Hawkeyes Best of 2023
At College Football Network, we watch every game. Every player. Every team. And our notebooks are chock full of top players, plays, highlights, and moments. Today, I’m emptying the notebook.
Below, find Iowa’s noteworthy players, groupings, or units, all listed under a different category: good, great, grand, or wonderful. Every team across the country has put forth their best efforts in 2023, and through four weeks of action, those players deserve notoriety for what they’ve put forth this season.
Highlighting the best with a line from the one and only Chris Farley, welcome to this season’s Good, Great, Grand, Wonderful!
For all 133 teams, head over to College Football’s Best of 2023.
Jump to the rest of the teams from the Big Ten Conference: Illinois | Indiana | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State | Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue | Rutgers | Wisconsin
Good: Tory Taylor, P
The lone offensive weapon for this Iowa team has been Tory Taylor, and yes, with his skills, you can call him an offensive weapon. Taylor has booted 10 punts inside the 20 so far and is averaging 48 yards per boot.
He’s essentially accounted or a handful of safeties over the past two seasons, more points than most offensive players can claim on this Iowa roster.
Great: Jay Higgins, LB
Flying around the field, Jay Higgins has racked up 28 solo tackles and 50 total tackles in 2023. He’s been solid against the run and equally as impressive dropping into coverage.
Grand: Sebastian Castro, CB
A pick-six to his name, Sebastian Castro has locked down in coverage for the Hawkeyes. He’s limited receivers to very little in his primary coverage and has been a feisty, physical corner with terrific catch-point skills.
Wonderful: Joe Evans, EDGE
We feel like were just a few plays away from the Joe Evans breakout game. He’s been getting after the quarterbacks at will in 2023 and though he has one sack, Evans has influenced the opponent’s game plan more often than not this season.