Dont'a Hightower
Encyclopedia
Dont'a Hightower is an American football
linebacker
. He is currently attending the University of Alabama
in his junior year. He was granted a medical redshirt
after his original sophomore campaign was cut short by a knee injury in the fourth game of the season. Hightower is considered one of the best inside linebackers of his class.
, Hightower first drew recognition his sophomore year when the team's starting running back quit the team. In the last four games of the season, he rushed for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns. After growing to 6 in 2 in (1.88 m) prior to his junior year, Hightower was moved to linebacker and tight end
. He collected 98 tackles, two sacks, and seven forced fumbles, while at TE, he caught 18 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns.
Having grown to 6 in 4 in (1.93 m) as a senior, Hightower again switched positions, playing defensive end
. After recording 168 tackles (14 for loss), five forced fumbles, five interceptions and four fumble recoveries, he was named 3A Mr. Football Lineman of the Year and The Tennessean
′s Defensive Most Valuable Player in 2007. He also added 875 yards and 19 touchdowns on offense.
Hightower was selected to play in the U.S. Army East West All-Star Game in San Antonio, Texas
. He also earned four-star ratings from Rivals.com
and Scout.com
.
, Hightower started 12 games while playing in all 14 at weakside inside linebacker ("Will") in the Alabama's 3-4 defense
, next to Rolando McClain
who occupied the other inside linebacker spot ("Mike"). Hightower recorded 64 tackles (4th on the team) and 2.5 tackles for loss, while also having one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He had at least one tackle in each game and had five or more stops in seven of 14 games, including 10 against Tulane and a career-high 11 at LSU. He was subsequently named to numerous Freshman All-American teams.
, during the Arkansas
game, Hightower suffered a knee injury in the first quarter when he was cut blocked by an Arkansas lineman. He was diagnosed a torn anterior cruciate ligament
in his left knee and missed the rest of the season with surgery. True freshman Nico Johnson
replaced him at weakside linebacker. Hightower recorded 16 tackles including 4 tackles for loss. Having played only four games, he was granted a medical redshirt making him a redshirt sophomore in 2010.
Expected to return for the 2010 season
, Hightower "will be the nucleus of a young defense". He is expected to replace McClain as Alabama’s middle linebacker.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He is currently attending the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
in his junior year. He was granted a medical redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
after his original sophomore campaign was cut short by a knee injury in the fourth game of the season. Hightower is considered one of the best inside linebackers of his class.
High school career
Attending Marshall County High School in Lewisburg, TennesseeLewisburg, Tennessee
Lewisburg is a city in Marshall County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,413 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marshall County...
, Hightower first drew recognition his sophomore year when the team's starting running back quit the team. In the last four games of the season, he rushed for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns. After growing to 6 in 2 in (1.88 m) prior to his junior year, Hightower was moved to linebacker and tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
. He collected 98 tackles, two sacks, and seven forced fumbles, while at TE, he caught 18 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns.
Having grown to 6 in 4 in (1.93 m) as a senior, Hightower again switched positions, playing defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
. After recording 168 tackles (14 for loss), five forced fumbles, five interceptions and four fumble recoveries, he was named 3A Mr. Football Lineman of the Year and The Tennessean
The Tennessean
The Tennessean is the principal daily newspaper in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Its circulation area covers 39 counties in Middle Tennessee and eight counties in southern Kentucky....
′s Defensive Most Valuable Player in 2007. He also added 875 yards and 19 touchdowns on offense.
Hightower was selected to play in the U.S. Army East West All-Star Game in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. He also earned four-star ratings from Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
and Scout.com
Scout.com
Scout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
.
College career
Freshman season
As one of only two true freshmen to be regular starter for the Crimson Tide in 20082008 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 28, 2008, progressing through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009, where the #2...
, Hightower started 12 games while playing in all 14 at weakside inside linebacker ("Will") in the Alabama's 3-4 defense
3-4 defense
In American football, the 3–4 defense is a defensive alignment consisting of three down linemen and four linebackers.The 3–4 defense declined in popularity over the years, but has found renewed use by modern professional and college football teams. The 3–4 defense is so named because it involves 3...
, next to Rolando McClain
Rolando McClain
-Oakland Raiders:McClain signed his contract with the Raiders on July 28, 2010, in time to make the first day of training camp. The contract is estimated to be for $40 million over 5 years....
who occupied the other inside linebacker spot ("Mike"). Hightower recorded 64 tackles (4th on the team) and 2.5 tackles for loss, while also having one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He had at least one tackle in each game and had five or more stops in seven of 14 games, including 10 against Tulane and a career-high 11 at LSU. He was subsequently named to numerous Freshman All-American teams.
Sophomore season
For the 2009 season2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on September 2, 2009, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2010, featuring the...
, during the Arkansas
2009 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
The 2009 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2009 football season. The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas and two home games at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. Head coach...
game, Hightower suffered a knee injury in the first quarter when he was cut blocked by an Arkansas lineman. He was diagnosed a torn anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his left knee and missed the rest of the season with surgery. True freshman Nico Johnson
Nico Johnson
Nico Johnson is an American football linebacker. He currently attends the University of Alabama in his junior year. Johnson is considered one of the best outside linebackers in his class.-High school career:...
replaced him at weakside linebacker. Hightower recorded 16 tackles including 4 tackles for loss. Having played only four games, he was granted a medical redshirt making him a redshirt sophomore in 2010.
Expected to return for the 2010 season
2010 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2010 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 118th overall season, 78th as a member of the Southeastern Conference and its 19th within the SEC Western Division...
, Hightower "will be the nucleus of a young defense". He is expected to replace McClain as Alabama’s middle linebacker.
College career statistics
- Correct as of game played November 12, 2011.
! rowspan=2|Year !! rowspan=2|GP–GS !! colspan=4|Tackles !! Sacks !! colspan=4|Pass Defense !! colspan=2|Fumbles !! Blocked>! Solo !! Ast !! Total !! Loss–Yards !! No–Yards !! Int–Yards !! BU !! PD !! QBH !! Rcv–Yards !! FF !! Kick> | 2008 2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football teamThe 2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 76th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference and its 17th within the SEC Western Division...
>> 26 38 64 2.5–6 0–0 0–0 0 0 6 2–8 1 0 | 2009 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football teamThe 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 77th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference and its 18th within the SEC Western Division...
>> 5 11 16 4.0–7 1–4 0–0 1 1 2 0–0 0 0 | 2010 2010 Alabama Crimson Tide football teamThe 2010 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 118th overall season, 78th as a member of the Southeastern Conference and its 19th within the SEC Western Division...
>> 30 40 70 3.5-8 0.0-0 1-2 3 5 9 0 1 0 | 2011 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football teamThe 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represents the University of Alabama in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It marks the Crimson Tide's 119th overall season, 79th as a member of the Southeastern Conference and its 20th within the SEC Western Division...
>> 30 36 66 8.5-32 3.0-16 1-29 3 0 7 0 0 0 ! colspan=2|Total
! 91 !! 125 !! 216 !! 18.5–53 !! 1.0–4 !! 2–31 !! 7 !! 6 !! 23 !! 2–8 !! 2 !! 0>
External links