Jay Higgins IV remembers a simple motto while trying to make the Ravens' 53-man roster.
"Try to make one play a day," the undrafted inside linebacker from Iowa said. "I actually got that from [teammate] Malik Hamm. If you can get a clip up there that [Head] Coach [John] Harbaugh's showing, that's always something good to do."
When Harbaugh turns on the tape, he sees plenty of Higgins.
In the Ravens' first preseason game, Higgins made a jumping interception in the fourth quarter. Later in that same quarter, Higgins preserved the Ravens' win over the Colts with a pass deflection.
In Baltimore's most recent preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, Higgins forced a fumble and led Baltimore with six tackles. Using a quick inside move on a fourth quarter blitz, Higgins stripped the ball from Dallas quarterback Will Grier. And fellow undrafted linebacker Kaimon Rucker recovered.
Those are the kind of splash plays the Ravens want from their defense this season – more takeaways, more tackles for loss, even more pressures on quarterbacks. Higgins is not sure if he will make the initial 53-man roster, but he already plays like a Raven.
"He's really instinctive and has a high football IQ," Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr said. "A lot of linebackers got moved to linebacker late in college. He's been a linebacker basically his whole life. He understands how to read linemen, read pulls, understands zone drops, man drops and spacing in coverage. That's underrated for the linebacker position.
The Ravens lost three inside linebackers during free agency who were core players on special teams – Malik Harrison, Chris Board, and Kristian Welch. Higgins played special teams for three years at Iowa and that experience could help him punch a ticket to Baltimore's roster.
"I know if I want to make this team and have an impact, it's going to be on special teams, so I try to go out there and play with the best effort I can," Higgins said.
"That's a big reason why I came here, talking to my agent, and I obviously know who Zach Orr is. But they don't hand things out here. I know I've got to go earn a spot. This is a Super Bowl-caliber team. They've got a lot of great players. One thing I'm learning about the NFL – 53's a small number."
The Ravens have an excellent track record with players from Iowa, including current Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, Ring of Honor offensive lineman Marshal Yanda, and former safety Geno Stone. Welch also played his college ball at Iowa.
The Ravens' long connection with Iowa and their history of success with undrafted free agents factored into Higgins' decision to sign with them. He wanted a fair shot to make a team, and he wanted to join a winning culture. With the Ravens, Higgins found both.
"I think the programs are similar," Higgins said. "It's all about football at both places. At Iowa, if it's not about football, we don't really do it. The more I'm around here, the more I understand how Coach Harbaugh operates. Everybody in the facility is about football."
Being around three-time Pro Bowler Roquan Smith has given Higgins a front-row seat to view how an inside linebacker should handle his business. Smith is the unquestioned leader of Baltimore's inside linebacker group, and Higgins has been soaking up advice.
"I've learned why he's really good at football," Higgins said. "I don't think I've ever told him that, but how he works, how he operates, how he commands the defense, the respect he gets. It's all there. I enjoy talking to him off the field. I enjoy learning from him when he's in football mode."
Higgins had a combined 295 tackles over his last two seasons at Iowa and was named the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and a unanimous All-American in 2024. Listed at six feet, 230 pounds, Higgins was viewed as undersized by some NFL scouts, but he fully expected to be drafted.
"He was a great player in college. His resume speaks for itself," Orr said. "He should have been drafted, but measurables probably knocked him down. He's definitely athletic enough and fast enough to play at this level. There's no reason why he shouldn't play a long time in this league. He works hard. I am just very pleased with him."
As Higgins prepares for Saturday's preseason game against the Washington Commanders, he knows NFL teams will be trimming their rosters to 53 players by Tuesday's deadline. It's the elephant in the room for players on the roster bubble, but Higgins knows what's at stake and is ready to ball out.
"NFL guys have been telling me, 'It's not about how you got here. It's how long you can stay,'" Higgins said. "I'm focusing on trying to stay here and having a good career."
