By John Bohnenkamp

INDIANAPOLIS — Of course, Roy and Shelley Higgins were going to be waiting for their son at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Wednesday was the second day of Big Ten Football Media Days and linebacker Jay Higgins, who grew up in Indianapolis, was one of the players representing Iowa.

“I told someone else that you’re crazy if you think my mom and my dad aren’t giving me a hug when I’m 10 minutes from the house,” Jay said.

It was going to be hard for his parents to get inside, so Higgins had to go meet them.

“They didn’t have any credentials, so they didn’t let them in, but I went out there and gave them a hug in the lobby,” he said.

The stadium, the home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, is a big part of the city’s downtown, and a part of Higgins’ life in the city. He’s been here before — he played in a state championship game in high school and he’s been here a couple of times with the Hawkeyes for the Big Ten championship game.

“Growing up 10 minutes from here, Lucas Oil was one of those places where it’s always a part of everyday life, but you looked at it as where the Colts played,” he said. “You’re kind of on the outside looking in, and you never put yourself in it. It’s cool I’m back here doing football business, if you will.”

There was more motivation surrounding him, and it’s something that has surrounded Higgins throughout his career at Iowa. He didn’t get much, if any, attention from Big Ten schools, especially Indiana and Purdue.

His season last year proved that the lack of attention was a mistake. Higgins was a first-team All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten selection last season, leading the Hawkeyes with 171 tackles.

“I think about that every day,” he said. “That’s probably the No. 1 thing that keeps me going. Because of that, I’m super-appreciative of Iowa for giving me the opportunity to be here. I appreciate the coaching staff seeing something in me that no one else saw. I play with a chip on my shoulder, remembering nobody wanted me. It’s easy to give Iowa all that I have, because they’re the guys who actually saw something in me.”

It’s also why coach Kirk Ferentz appreciated that Higgins chose to pass on the NFL draft for a fifth season.

“What he did last year was phenomenal,” Ferentz said. “We were all confident, as coaches, that he would play pretty well. To put up the numbers he put up, no one would make that prediction of any young guy.”

What Ferentz also appreciated was Higgins’ patience. He was stuck behind Jack Campbell on the depth chart, but playing behind a player who would go on to be a first-round NFL draft pick was an education.

In a college football world where the easiest escape is to get into the NCAA’s transfer portal, Higgins chose to watch and learn.

“I’m grateful that I had a chance to learn from a guy like Jack Campbell,” Higgins said.

“Jay’s no dummy,” Ferentz said. “It’s like, OK, Jack Campbell’s pretty good. Never complained about anything, just worked his tail off. The smartest thing he did was learn off Jack. He watched everything he did — how he prepares, how he works with his teammates.

“Boy, he took off. He played great last year, I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t play great this year.”

Higgins was tipped off about Ferentz’s comments by his father, so he slipped over to Ferentz’s podium session to interrupt.

“Coach? Coach?” Higgins shouted, blending in with other media members standing around.

“I’ll be with you next,” Ferentz said, before realizing who was asking.

“Who the hell is this guy crashing the party?” Ferentz then said, enjoying the moment.

“Jay Higgins, Iowa Football,” Higgins responded. “What do you do in your free time? Any hobbies?”

“Golfing with Jay Higgins,” Ferentz answered. “I hope you weren’t standing there when I was bragging about you.”

Ferentz wasn’t wrong about what he said, and he wasn’t wrong in his judgment of Higgins when he recruited him.

Higgins looked around the stadium as he was talking. He’s been here before, with losses every time.

One more year to right that.

“Making it (to the Big Ten championship game) a third time, and actually winning, would be pretty cool,” he said.