Dont'a Hightower

Dont'a Hightower

Alabama Crimson Tide — No. 30
Linebacker	Junior
Major: None
Date of birth: March 12, 1990 (1990-03-12) (age 21)
Place of birth: Lewisburg, Tennessee
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	Weight: 260 lb (118 kg; 18 st 8 lb)
Career history
High school: Marshall County High School, Lewisburg, Tennessee
College(s): University of Alabama (2008–present)
Career highlights and awards
2011 Preseason All-SEC Coaches 1st Team 2010 Preseason All-SEC Coaches 1st Team 2008 Freshman All-American (FWAA, CFN, Rivals)
Stats at CBSSports.com

Dont'a Hightower (born March 12, 1990) 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.^[1]

High school career

Attending Marshall County High School in Lewisburg, Tennessee, 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.^[2] After growing to 6 ft 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.^[2]

Having grown to 6 ft 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.

College career

“	Dont'a [Hightower] can play any position on the field. He's a freak to me.	”
—Alabama teammate Rolando McClain.[3]

Freshman season

As one of only two true freshmen to be regular starter for the Crimson Tide in 2008, 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.^[4][5][6]

Sophomore season

For the 2009 season, 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.^[7] 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".^[8] He is expected to replace McClain as Alabama’s middle linebacker.^[9]

College career statistics

Correct as of game played November 12, 2011.^[10]

Year	GP–GS	Tackles				Sacks	Pass Defense				Fumbles		Blocked
		Solo	Ast	Total	Loss–Yards	No–Yards	Int–Yards	BU	PD	QBH	Rcv–Yards	FF	Kick
2008	14–12	26	38	64	2.5–6	0–0	0–0	0	0	6	2–8	1	0
2009	4–4	5	11	16	4.0–7	1–4	0–0	1	1	2	0–0	0	0
2010	14–14	30	40	70	3.5-8	0.0-0	1-2	3	5	9	0	1	0
2011	10–10	30	36	66	8.5-32	3.0-16	1-29	3	0	7	0	0	0
Total		91	125	216	18.5–53	1.0–4	2–31	7	6	23	2–8	2	0

References

1. ^ "NFL Draft - 2012 ILB Draft Prospects". CBSSports.com. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/TSX/2012_ILB. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Porter, Yancy (March 19, 2007). "Dont'a Hightower's recruiting profile". Scout.com. http://recruiting.scout.com/2/627892.html. 
3. ^ Cooper, Josh (April 5, 2009). "Saban finally has experienced linebackers". The Anniston Star. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2009/as-college-0405-jcooper-9d04w2320.htm. 
4. ^ "AON Insurance/FWAA Freshman All-America Team". FWAA. 2009-01-08. http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2008/allamerica090108.html. 
5. ^ Cirminiello, Richard (December 11, 2008). "2008 CFN All-Freshman Second & HM Teams". College Football News. http://cfn.scout.com/2/820618.html. 
6. ^ "Rivals.com 2008 Freshman All-America teams". Rivals.com. 2008-12-17. http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=890291. 
7. ^ "Hightower out for the season with knee injury". TideSports.com. September 28, 2009. http://www.tidesports.com/article/20090928/NEWS/909289990. 
8. ^ Kausler, Don, Jr. (November 16, 2009). "Alabama analysis: 2010 defense will have a tough act to follow, but the talent will be there". The Birmingham News. http://blog.al.com/tide-source/2009/11/alabama_analysis_2010_defense.html. 
9. ^ Low, Chris (August 11, 2010). "Hybrid role suits Tide's Hightower just fine". ESPN.com. http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/12524/hybrid-role-suits-tides-hightower-just-fine. 
10. ^ Cumulative Season Statistics. University of Alabama Athletic Department. http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2009-2010/teamcume.html. Retrieved 2010-08-09 

External links

• Alabama Crimson Tide bio

Persondata
Name	Hightower, Donta
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	March 12, 1990
Place of birth	Lewisburg, Tennessee
Date of death
Place of death