Donta Hightower

Early years

Hightower was born in Lewisburg, Tennessee. He attended Marshall County High School in Lewisburg, where he played for the Marshall County Tigers high school football team. He 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 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 tight end, he caught 18 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns.

Having grown to six feet, three inches tall 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 Tennesseans 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.

Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Hightower was listed as the No. 15 inside linebacker in the nation in 2008. He chose Alabama over Auburn, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt.

Freshman season

Hightower attended the University of Alabama, where he played for coach Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide football team from 2008 to 2011. 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 ("Mike") in the Alabama's 3–4 defense, next to Rolando McClain who occupied the other inside linebacker spot ("Mack"). 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 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. 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.

Redshirt sophomore and junior season

Returning for the 2010 season, Hightower was expected to "be the nucleus of a young defense". He replaced McClain as Alabama’s middle linebacker, and in 2011, he captained a defense that ranked No. 1 nationally in all five major categories—scoring defense (8.8 ppg), total defense (191.3 ypg), rushing defense (74.9 ypg), pass efficiency defense (83.9 ypg) and pass defense (116.3 ypg). Hightower led the team with a career-best 81 tackles, including 37 solo stops, as well as three sacks (−16 yards) and 9.5 tackles for loss (−35 yards). He also registered eight quarterback hurries, one interception, one blocked field goal and three pass breakups.

Hightower was a consensus first-team All-American by the Associated Press, AFCA and Walter Camp as well as Rivals.com and Pro Football Weekly. He was also a finalist for the Lombardi Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, the Butkus Award, and the Lott Trophy.

College career statistics

Professional career

As early as April 2011, Hightower was projected a potential first-round draft pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Shortly after the 2012 BCS National Championship Game, he announced his decision to forgo his final year of eligibility. Right after the season ended, he was projected a late first-round selection. After solid performances at the NFL Combine and Alabama Pro Day, he was still regarded as a late first-rounder. On April 26, 2012, Hightower was selected by the New England Patriots with the 25th overall pick in the draft.

2012 season

On July 19, 2012, Hightower agreed to a contract with the Patriots. It was reported that the deal was four years, worth $7.7 million. In his first game for the Patriots, he recovered a fumble (forced by fellow debuting rookie Chandler Jones) and returned it for a touchdown. During his rookie season in 2012, Hightower played 14 games with 60 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 passes defended, and 2 fumble recoveries. The Patriots finished the season with a 12-4 record, clinching an AFC East division title until losing to the eventual Super Bowl champions Baltimore Ravens 13-28 in the AFC Championship.

2013 season

In 2013, Hightower played all 16 games with 113 tackles, 1 sack, and 4 passes defended. The Patriots clinched another AFC East title with a 12-4 record, went to the AFC Championship again, losing to the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium 16-26.

2014 season

In 2014, Hightower started 12 games with 105 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble. The Patriots again clinched the AFC East with a 12-4 record, this time making it to Super Bowl XLIX. During the Super Bowl, Hightower stopped Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch at the 1-yard line, preventing Seattle from scoring a go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. On the very next play, teammate Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson, proving to be the final blow as the Patriots won 28-24.

2015 season

On April 30, 2015, the Patriots picked up the fifth-year, $7.751 million option of Hightower's contract. Through the season's first 11 games, over which the Patriots went 10-1, Hightower racked up 55 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He left the November 29 game against the Denver Broncos, won by the Broncos, 30-24, with what was reported to be a sprained MCL in his left knee. Overall in 2015, Hightower played 12 games with 61 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, and 1 fumble recovery. The Patriots clinched another AFC East title with a 12-4 record and had a rematch with the Broncos in the AFC Championship, but lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions by a score of 18-20.

2016 season

With the retirement of Jerod Mayo, Hightower was named one of the team captains for the 2016 season. In the Week 6 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Hightower registered 13 tackles, 2 quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks including a safety on quarterback Andy Dalton and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Hightower was named to his first Pro Bowl on December 20 and was also named second-team All-Pro. He was also ranked 94th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.

Hightower contributed to the Patriots 14-2 record and top-seed in the AFC playoffs.

On February 5, 2017, Hightower was part of the Patriots team that won Super Bowl LI. The Patriots trailed 28–3 in the third quarter, but rallied all the way back to win the game 34-28 against the Atlanta Falcons in overtime. The Super Bowl featured both the first overtime game and the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. Hightower recorded two tackles, one sack, and forced a fumble that gave the Patriots the ball at the 25-yard line, this proved to be the turning point in the game, as it allowed New England to cut the Falcons' lead to eight points five plays after the fumble.

2017 season

On March 15, 2017, after mulling offers from the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Patriots, Hightower signed a four-year, $35.5 million contract to return to the Patriots.