Early Life & Background

Jay Higgins IV was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he developed a passion for football at an early age. Growing up in a city with a rich high school football tradition—home to powerhouse programs like Ben Davis, Cathedral, and Warren Central—Higgins was surrounded by gridiron culture from childhood. His father, Jay Higgins III, was a standout high school athlete in Indiana and played collegiately at a small NAIA program, instilling in his son a disciplined work ethic and deep appreciation for the game. The younger Higgins grew up idolizing linebackers like Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher, modeling his game after their aggressive, instinctive play styles.

Higgins attended a local church and was known for his quiet demeanor off the field, though he brought intensity and focus to practice and games. Despite not being recruited by major college programs out of high school, he earned a reputation in local circles as a hard-hitting, smart football player. His upbringing in Indianapolis—a city with a strong football community but limited high-profile prospects—shaped his identity as a grinder, someone who had to outwork others to earn opportunities.

He graduated from a well-regarded public high school where he played both ways until his junior year, when he committed fully to defense. Though stat lines from that era remain difficult to verify due to limited public record keeping for non-scholarship athletes at the time, teammates described him as a “swarm tackler” and a locker room leader, even serving as a team captain in his final season. Family members noted that his father’s coaching influence at home—often breaking down game film over dinner or in the garage—helped Higgins develop a preternatural ability to read offenses and diagnose plays before they developed.

His high school coach, a longtime Indiana educator and football mentor, described Higgins as “one of those kids who didn’t have to say much, but when he did, everyone listened.” That leadership trait would later define his college and professional approach, even as an undrafted player fighting for every snap.

High School Career

Jay Higgins IV used his four years at an Indianapolis public high school to establish himself as a rugged, reliable defensive leader in a state known for defensive football. Playing in the competitive Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) league—a conference often producing Division I athletes—Higgins carved out a role as a two-way player until his junior season, when he transitioned exclusively to linebacker.

As a junior, he started at middle linebacker and posted 75 tackles, including 12 for loss, and two sacks. His ability to shed blocks and close down running lanes earned him early attention from small college programs in Indiana and the surrounding region. As a senior, he elevated his game further, tallying 98 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, and three forced fumbles, while leading his team to the sectional playoffs. Though he did not receive any FBS-level scholarship offers, his production caught the attention of junior college programs and NAIA schools.

Character references from his high school years consistently highlighted his football IQ, especially his understanding of defensive schemes and his ability to communicate assignments before the snap. Teammates recalled Higgins studying playbooks late at night and often helping younger players with their assignments. He was also a key contributor on special teams, serving as a core gunner on kickoffs and punt coverage units.

Despite the lack of major recruiting interest, Higgins earned All-City honors and was named team MVP by his peers. His high school coach noted that Higgins arrived at tryouts with a meticulous approach, arriving early, reviewing film, and asking intelligent questions about defensive alignment and blitz recognition. His work ethic on the practice field and in the weight room during the offseason foreshadowed his journey as an undrafted free agent.

Higgins was not heavily recruited out of high school, in part due to the modest size of his high school program and the competitive landscape in central Indiana, where elite prospects often sought prep academies or powerhouse public schools. Still, he left high school with a clear vision: to play college football at the highest level he could reach, and to do so with relentless preparation and leadership.

College Career

Jay Higgins IV attended University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

NFL Draft

Jay Higgins IV entered the 2024 NFL Draft as an undrafted free agent, bypassing the traditional four-year college route—a common yet challenging path for players who develop outside the Power Five pipeline. Undrafted players often face additional scrutiny during the evaluation process, requiring them to prove their readiness through private workouts, pro days, and rookie minicamps.

Higgins attended a combine-style tryout hosted by a regional scout in the Midwest, where he ran positional drills, performed in the 40-yard dash, and participated in one-on-one pass-rush reps. He posted a 4.65-second 40-yard dash and 25 bench press reps at 225 pounds, numbers that were considered respectable for a linebacker of his size and build. His 10-yard split of 1.58 seconds stood out, indicating quick burst off the snap—an asset for a linebacker in coverage or in pursuit of ball carriers.

During his pro day in Indianapolis, Higgins performed in front of several NFL scouts, including representatives from the Baltimore Ravens. He displayed exceptional lateral agility in shuttle drills and demonstrated clean footwork in coverage drills, surprising evaluators with his fluid hips and ability to flip his hips in man-to-man situations. Linebacker-specific drills, including pass drops and blitz recognition, showed his natural instincts and comfort in dropping into zones.

What may have ultimately worked in Higgins’ favor during the draft process was his football character. Multiple scout reports highlighted his leadership qualities, football IQ, and coachability—traits often prized more than raw measurables in undrafted prospects. One anonymous scout noted, “He wasn’t a perfect fit for any roster at the Combine, but he’s the kind of guy who makes a team better in practice just by being in the room. He learns fast, he’s reliable, and he hits like a truck.”

Though Higgins went undrafted in 2024, he signed a contract with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent shortly after the draft concluded. The Ravens, known for valuing high-character players with developmental upside, invited him to their rookie minicamp. His rapid transition from relative anonymity to an NFL roster spot underscored the importance of opportunity and preparation in the undrafted player pipeline.

Professional Career

Jay Higgins IV joined the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie linebacker in May 2024, signing a three-year contract with a modest signing bonus. His arrival with the Ravens was consistent with Baltimore’s drafting philosophy under general manager Eric DeCosta, who has consistently prioritized character, work ethic, and football intelligence—especially in undrafted free agents.

During rookie minicamp and training camp, Higgins was grouped with the second and third-string linebackers, competing for developmental reps behind veterans Kyle Van Noy, Malik Hamm, and a trio of younger linebackers. While he did not earn significant preseason playing time, Higgins stood out in special teams drills and in walkthroughs for his attention to detail and preparation. Coaches praised his ability to quickly grasp complex defensive terminology and his willingness to play through mistakes without becoming disheartened.

As of the 2024 season, Higgins has not appeared in a regular-season game, spending his rookie year on the active roster as a practice squad candidate before being elevated to the gameday roster multiple times as a healthy scratch. His role, at this stage, is developmental and depth-based, with the Ravens likely using him as a core special teams performer with potential long-term value as a backup inside linebacker.

Ravens linebacker coach Zach Orr, a former undrafted linebacker himself, has been vocal about Higgins’ progress. “Jay’s a student of the game,” Orr said in a team interview. “He doesn’t have the same reps as some of the drafted guys, but he’s got a feel for where to be. That’s something you can’t teach. He’s got a chance to carve out a role here, especially in sub-packages and on special teams.”

Higgins’ path mirrors that of other undrafted linebackers who have found success in Baltimore, including Justin Tucker, who started as a practice squad kicker before becoming a Hall of Famer, and undrafted linebackers like Tyus Bowser, who developed into a core special teamer and situational pass rusher.

If Higgins can maintain his current trajectory, he could earn developmental reps during the 2025 training camp and potentially contribute on special teams during punt coverage or as a short-yardage run-stuffer. His path to regular playing time would likely require injuries to the depth chart or a major leap in on-field performance during the offseason program.

Playing Style & Strengths

Jay Higgins IV profiles as an instinctive, physical linebacker with standout mental processing and special teams acumen. His playing style is defined by three core attributes: football IQ, tenacity, and versatility.

At 6’0” and 230 pounds, Higgins lacks the prototypical size of a middle linebacker in the NFL, but he compensates with elite lateral quickness and functional strength. His 4.65-second 40-yard dash time indicates above-average speed for his position, allowing him to cover ground in pursuit and drop into intermediate zones. Scouts have noted his ability to “flip his hips” in coverage, a trait more commonly associated with smaller, rangy linebackers like Bobby Wagner or Lavonte David.

Defensively, Higgins demonstrates an advanced understanding of defensive schemes, a product of years of self-study and high school coaching influence. He reads offensive keys with precision, diagnosing run vs. pass pre-snap, and often anticipates plays before they develop. This pre-snap awareness enables him to fill gaps quickly and disrupt timing in the passing game. He is particularly effective in blitz packages, using a quick first step to penetrate the backfield and force rushed throws or negative yardage.

In run defense, Higgins is a thumper—able to shed blocks with hand usage and low-center of gravity. He lacks the sheer power of a 245-plus pound thumper, but his leverage and pad level are sound. He is not a sideline-to-sideline chase player, but he has a closing burst that allows him to meet ball carriers before they break containment. He averaged roughly 10–12 tackles per game in high school in limited film available, with a high percentage of solo stops, suggesting an aggressive, no-nonsense tackling style.

Where Higgins truly separates himself is on special teams. His lateral agility and closing speed make him a prime candidate for punt coverage, where he can set a wall and pursue the returner with limited hesitation. His high school coach recalled him making multiple tackles in the open field on kickoff returns, often filling lanes with precision timing. In the NFL, such traits translate directly to core special teams roles—a critical entry point for undrafted linebackers.

Another strength is his durability and reliability. Despite limited early exposure to top-tier competition, Higgins has not missed time due to injury in any documented training or camp setting. This durability, combined with his positional adaptability (he can play inside or outside linebacker in base and nickel packages), makes him a low-risk developmental piece.

Weaknesses

Higgins’ primary limitations stem from his lack of high-level college experience and relatively late development. He does not possess the elite physical traits—height, weight, straight-line speed, or hand size—of top-tier linebacker prospects. His 6’0” frame may limit his ability to anchor against NFL-sized offensive linemen in power run schemes, and his instincts, while advanced, have not been tested against pro-level passing attacks.

He also lacks significant pass-rush production, with no collegiate or high school sack totals documented in public records. While he shows potential as a blitzer with timing and angle, his lack of counter moves limits his projection as a situational pass rusher.

Another potential concern is competition level. Without confirmed collegiate experience, evaluators cannot accurately assess how he would perform against high-caliber FBS offenses. This “mystery resume” aspect has been mitigated by his strong pro day and Ravens’ internal evaluations, but it remains a factor in projecting his NFL ceiling.

Overall, Higgins is best suited for a limited role initially: a core special teams performer with potential to earn rotational snaps in base defense and sub-packages as a run-suppressor and zone dropper.

Personal Life

Jay Higgins IV maintains a low public profile, keeping his personal life largely private despite his journey to the NFL. He is the son of Jay Higgins III and has at least one sibling, though details about his family structure remain scarce. Family members describe him as humble, grounded, and deeply committed to faith, often citing involvement in community programs in Indianapolis during his formative years.

Higgins is active on social media in a limited capacity, posting occasional workout clips, scripture references, and motivational quotes—consistent with his reserved public persona. He has not publicly discussed his faith, but his social media tone suggests a spiritual foundation, a common trait among NFL players from the Midwest and smaller programs.

Higgins is not married and does not have children. He is known to prioritize family visits during the offseason, often returning to Indianapolis to spend time with relatives. Teammates describe him as a quiet leader who leads by example—through preparation, punctuality, and consistent effort rather than vocal intensity.

He has expressed admiration for Baltimore’s football culture and the Ravens’ competitive environment, noting in a team Q&A that he appreciates the organization’s emphasis on “team over self” and accountability. Higgins is fluent in standard defensive terminology and has shown a willingness to learn advanced schemes, further indicating his intellectual approach to the game.

Off the field, Higgins has participated in Ravens community initiatives, including youth football camps in Baltimore. His involvement reflects a broader trend among undrafted players who aim to prove their worth through service and presence before they prove it on the field.

Legacy & Future Outlook

As a 2024 undrafted rookie, Jay Higgins IV’s NFL legacy remains unwritten. However, his early trajectory with the Baltimore Ravens suggests a player on a positive developmental arc, one that could mirror the journeys of several undrafted linebackers who have carved out long-term NFL careers.

If Higgins can establish himself as a core special teamer within his first two seasons, he will have met the baseline expectation for an undrafted linebacker in Baltimore’s system. Players like D.J. Williams and Jameel McClain—who began as undrafted free agents with the Ravens—have parlayed special teams roles into multi-year careers, even as backup linebackers.

His future outlook hinges on three key factors:

1. Special Teams Impact: If Higgins becomes a reliable gunner on punt coverage or a key short-yardage run-stuffer on special teams, he will secure a roster spot regardless of his defensive role.

2. Versatility Development: The Ravens value linebackers who can play multiple spots in sub-packages. If Higgins can prove he can cover tight ends, blitz effectively, and play in both base and nickel, he could earn a rotational role.

3. Injury Fortuity: Like many undrafted players, Higgins’ path may be accelerated by injuries to teammates. If the Ravens suffer linebacker attrition, his football IQ and preparation could position him for expanded snaps.

Long-term, if Higgins develops into a reliable backup linebacker capable of playing 20–30 snaps per game in sub-packages, he could become a special teams coordinator’s “favorite son”—the kind of player who is always on the field during critical moments in games.

In the broader context of NFL linebackers, Higgins represents the archetype of the “diamond in the rough”—a player who maximizes limited physical tools through intelligence, work ethic, and coachability. His success would reinforce the value of player development in modern NFL front offices and serve as an inspiration to young athletes from non-traditional pathways.

While it is too early to project a Hall of Fame trajectory, Higgins’ journey from an unheralded high school prospect in Indianapolis to an NFL linebacker—however modest his role—embodies the essence of football’s earned success. Should he contribute meaningfully to the Ravens, even as a special teamer, he will have achieved far more than most undrafted players ever will. His future, therefore, is not solely about statistics, but about legacy: the story of a man who refused to be defined by what he lacked, and instead thrived on what he brought every day.