Dont'a Hightower
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| Dont'a Hightower | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Dont'a Hightower |
| Number | 54 |
| Position | Linebacker |
| Birth date | 1990-03-12 |
| Birth place | Lewisburg, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Weight lb | 260 |
| College | Alabama |
| Draftyear | 2012 |
| Draftpick | 25 |
| Pastteams | New England Patriots (2012–2019, 2020) |
| Highlights | Super Bowl champion (XLIX, LI, LIII), PFWA All-Rookie Team (2012) |
Dont'a Hightower is a former American professional linebacker who played in the National Football League for the New England Patriots. A first-round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, he was a key contributor to three Super Bowl championships and recognized for his versatility, run defense, and pass-rush ability.
Early life and high school
Born in Lewisburg, Tennessee, Hightower attended Marshall County High School where he starred in football and basketball. In high school he played for the Tigers, drawing recruiting attention from programs including the University of Alabama, Auburn University, University of Tennessee, Florida State University, and University of Georgia. As a recruit he was evaluated by services like Rivals.com, Scout.com, and ESPN and earned selections to regional all-star teams and state honors.
College career
Hightower enrolled at the Alabama Crimson Tide under head coach Nick Saban, joining a linebacker corps that included Dont'a Hightower's contemporaries such as C.J. Mosley, Kerry Hyder, and later Derrick Henry emerged in the program. He redshirted early then developed into a starter who contributed to Alabama's national championships in the 2009 season, 2011 season, and the 2012 season. Playing in the Southeastern Conference, he faced opponents from programs like Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M, earning All-SEC consideration and national draft interest after multiple seasons under defensive coordinators such as Kirby Smart.
NFL Draft and scouting
Entering the 2012 NFL Draft, Hightower participated in the NFL Scouting Combine and Alabama pro days where scouts from franchises like the New England Patriots, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys evaluated his traits. Pre-draft analysis from media outlets including ESPN, NFL Network, Pro Football Focus, Bleacher Report, and The Sporting News highlighted his size, athleticism, and ability to translate from the SEC to the NFL. The New England Patriots selected him in the first round (25th overall), completing a draft-day move that followed selections by teams such as the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers earlier in the round.
New England Patriots tenure
Hightower signed with the New England Patriots and became a part of head coach Bill Belichick's defensive schemes, contributing under coordinators including Matt Patricia and later on staffs featuring coaches like Brian Flores. He was a contributor during Super Bowl XLIX versus the Seattle Seahawks, Super Bowl LI versus the Atlanta Falcons, and Super Bowl LIII versus the Los Angeles Rams, teaming with teammates such as Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Stephon Gilmore, and Tedy Bruschi (note: historical teammate context) predecessors. Notable moments include a championship-clinching strip sack that helped the Patriots secure Super Bowl LI in the 2016 NFL season postseason and multiple playoff campaigns against franchises like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, and Kansas City Chiefs. Injuries, including a significant torn pectoral muscle and other ailments, caused him to miss games across seasons, and he had contract negotiations and roster moves consistent with veteran players in the NFL Players Association era.
Playing style and position
Primarily a outside linebacker in a 3–4/4–3 hybrid, Hightower was valued for his ability to set the edge against running backs from teams like the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, drop into intermediate zones to defend quarterbacks from the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, and execute blitz packages versus passers from the Baltimore Ravens. Scouting reports compared his skill set to prototypical modern linebackers who blend strength, speed, and play diagnosis, and analytics firms including Pro Football Focus and ESPN graded his pass-rush win rate and run-stop percentage among peers such as von Miller, Khalil Mack, and Lavonte David at various points in his career.
Personal life and off-field activities
Off the field Hightower has been involved in charitable and community efforts in the Greater Boston area and his hometown of Lewisburg, Tennessee, working with local schools, youth football programs, and philanthropic initiatives linked to teammates and organizations such as the NFL Foundation and community outreach arms of the New England Patriots. He has family ties that influenced his early life and has been profiled by media outlets including The Boston Globe, ESPN, and local Tennessee press for his community impact and mentoring roles.
Career statistics and honors
Over his NFL career Hightower accumulated tackles, sacks, forced fumbles, and pass deflections recorded in official statistics tracked by the National Football League and databases such as Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN. Honors include three Super Bowl championships (XLIX, LI, LIII), a selection to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team, and team awards from the New England Patriots organization. Defensive metrics and game logs show notable performances in postseason contests and multiple seasons with double-digit quarterback pressures recorded by analytics groups like Pro Football Focus.
Category:Living people Category:1990 births Category:American football linebackers Category:New England Patriots players Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players