He played college football for the UTEP Miners, earning first-team All-American honors in 2006.

Higgins attended the University of Texas at El Paso to play football for the Miners.

He received several honors, including Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year in 2006.

He saw punt return action in the first three games, but it was in week 4 against the Denver Broncos in which Higgins made his first NFL reception.

In the first game of the 2009 season, against San Diego, Higgins ran the ball one time for 19 yards.