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). [36], Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia retained Hightower, Mayo, and Spikes as the starting linebackers to begin the 2013 regular season. On October 15, 2017, Hightower recorded a season-high seven combined tackles and a sack as the Patriots defeated the New York Jets 24–17. [47] On February 1, 2015, Hightower started in Super Bowl XLIX and recorded five combined tackles during the Patriots' 28–24 victory against the Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots clinched another AFC East title with a 12–4 record and had a rematch with the Broncos in the AFC Championship game, but lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions by a score of 20–18. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for dont'a hightower autographed card at the best online prices at eBay! Found insideDont'a Hightower watched the game as a member of the New England Patriots; picked 25th in the first round of the 2012 draft by the Pats, Hightower had 97 ... Dont'a Hightower Says He Never Considered Retirement After Opting Out Of 2020 Season By CBSBoston.com Staff June 15, 2021 at 1:56 pm Filed Under: Dont'a Hightower , New England Patriots , NFL . The rookie first rounder out of Alabama. [32] In Week 7, Hightower collected a season-high seven solo tackles and sacked Mark Sanchez as the Patriots defeated the New York Jets 29–26 in overtime. Found insideOn third down-and-2, Stafford completed a pass to Green, but the ball was jarred loose on a hit by Justin Woodall and was recovered by Dont'a Hightower, ... With fellow veteran linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts all having left New England in free agency, Hightower was projected as a crucial member of the team’s 2020 defense. [34], The New England Patriots finished the 2012 season atop the AFC East with a 12–4 record, clinching home field advantage and a first round bye. [27] Head coach Bill Belichick named him the opening day starter, alongside Jerod Mayo and middle linebacker Brandon Spikes. © 2020 ESPN Internet Ventures. With the Green Bay Packers, Hightower can get both. The veteran linebacker, who married his longtime girlfriend over the weekend, has returned to football after opting out of the 2020 season. Get the winning look of your New England Patriots with this Youth Dont'a Hightower New England Patriots Navy Pro Line Any Name & Number Logo Pullover Hoodie. [81], Hightower with the New England Patriots in 2013, 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football—consensus national champions, 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football—consensus national champions, New England Patriots first-round draft picks, "Former Marshall County star Hightower set for Super Bowl", "Saban finally has experienced linebackers", "AON Insurance/FWAA Freshman All-America Team", "2008 CFN All-Freshman Second & HM Teams", "Rivals.com 2008 Freshman All-America teams", "Hightower out for the season with knee injury", "Alabama analysis: 2010 defense will have a tough act to follow, but the talent will be there", "Hybrid role suits Tide's Hightower just fine", "Stanford's Luck headlines early look at top 2012 draft prospects", "2012 mock draft: First look with Luck and Heels", "Alabama's Trent Richardson, two teammates to enter NFL draft", "2012 NFL Mock Draft: Post-BCS Championship Game version", "Andrew Luck tops pre-Super Bowl NFL mock draft", http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/dont'a-hightower?id=2533057, http://draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=83013&draftyear=2012&genpos=, Patriots trade up again, land Dont’a Hightower-NBC Sports, "New England Patriots training camp 2012: With Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Dont'a Hightower, linebacker crew has high hopes", "Ourlads.com: New England Patriots Depth Chart: 10/01/2012", "NFL Game Center: Week 1-2012: New England Patriots @ Tennessee Titans", "New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans - September 9th, 2012", "NFL Game Center: Week 4-2012: New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills", "NFL Game Center: Week 7-2012: New York Jets @ New England Patriots", "NFL Player stats: Dont'a Hightower (2012)", "AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots - January 20th, 2013", "Ourlads.com: New England Patriots Depth Chart: 09/05/2013", "NFL Game Center: Week 8-2013: Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots", "NFL Player stats: Dont'a Hightower (2013)", "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Denver Broncos - January 19th, 2014", "Ourlads.com: New England Patriots Depth Chart: 09/01/2014", "NFL Game Center: Week 2-2014: New England Patriots @ Minnesota Vikings", "Patriots Inactives vs. Bengals: Hightower Out", "Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Brandon Browner inactive for New England Patriots versus Buffalo Bills", "Super Bowl XLIX Recap: The Dont'a Hightower Tackle - Inside The Pylon", "Super Bowl XLIX - Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots - February 1st, 2015", "Chandler Jones, Dont'a Hightower have fifth-year options picked up by Patriots", "New England Patriots on Yahoo! During his last season with the club in 2019, for example, he played mostly off the ball as an inside linebacker (488 snaps) but regularly aligned on the line of scrimmage in more of an edge role as well (273 snaps). [55] The New England Patriots announced Hightower was selected to be one of four team captains to represent the Patriots for the season. Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com,[4] Hightower was listed as the No. 84 days ago. Hightower recorded 64 tackles (4th on the team) and 2.5 tackles for loss, while also having one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. But when it comes right down to it. Hightower has played a prominent role in the Patriots’ defense ever since arriving in 2012. [56], He started the New England Patriots' season-opener at the Arizona Cardinals, but left in the second quarter of their 23–21 victory with an MCL injury. He has shown he can play inside or outside, depending on the package. "T-Rex Arms" Hawk. Patriots 2021 roster breakdown: Dont'a Hightower is back to lead the New England defense. The grade of a B is certainly . Great team effort!!! 46. Play action roll out. His statistics as of righ. Found insideDont'a Hightower, a junior linebacker on the 2011 Tide team, has been schooled about the significance of the UA-UT game. “This game brings up a lot. Dante Hightower. Choose from a variety of Dont'a Hightower tees including throwback, name & number tees featuring your favorite player, long sleeve T-shirts and more. Found inside... Trent Richardson, Mark Barron, and Dont'a Hightower. “People had been talking about the game for weeks on ESPN,” Wing said. “When we got off the bus, ... By . He played college football for the University of Alabama, was recognized as an All-American, and was a member of two BCS National Championship teams and was selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. The New England Patriots selected Hightower in the first round (25th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. Qualin Dont'a Hightower (born March 12, 1990) is an American football inside linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Found insideI remember riding next to my teammate Dont'a Hightower one time on the way to Fan Day, where thousands of folks come out for autographs and to watch the ... Dont'a Hightower of the New England Patriots celebrates a third quarter sack against the Los Angeles Rams performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl . [35] The following week, he made three combined tackles as the Patriots lost 28–13 to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Baltimore Ravens, in the AFC Championship game. Like fans of the team, inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo was jarred by the Hightower news. In Week 7, He blocked a punt that was recovered by Van Noy and returned for a touchdown, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. [62], The New England Patriots finished atop the AFC East and clinched a first round bye and a playoff berth with a 14–2 record. The following day, it was announced that it was discovered to be a torn pectoral muscle and would likely sideline Hightower for the remainder of the season. The number of known opt-outs is up to six and counting for New England. Dont'a Hightower contact info (name, email address, phone number). Over the course of spring and summer, just like we have in years past, we will take a look at the players fighting for those spots to find out who has the best chances of helping the Patriots bounce back from what was a disappointing 7-9 season last year. Returning for the 2010 season, Hightower was expected to "be the nucleus of a young defense". Dont'a Hightower was not one of them. The following week, he made eight combined tackles as the Patriots lost 26–16 to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game. 94. level 2. Sanchez in trouble. 253253. He is an outside linebacker in the NFL. Hightower Home Services LLC AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith. In 2020 I decided to start my own business in pressure washing. In Week 2, Hightower recorded a season-high 12 combined tackles (eight solo) and was credited with half a sack during a 40–32 win at the Buffalo Bills. These men don't command a locker room, a huddle or a football field in the same way Zeus does. Found insideRunning back Ray Rice breaks the tackle of rookie Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower to score a second-quarter touchdown. AP Images The Patriots finished ... On Sunday night, Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower joined The Double Coverage podcast with Devin and Jason McCourty to discuss a number of different topics as the NFL gets set to report for training camp this week. [63][64], On March 15, 2017, the New England Patriots signed Hightower to a four-year, $35.5 million contract that includes $17 million guaranteed and a $10 million signing bonus. On September 14, 2014, Hightower recorded eight combined tackles, broke up a pass, and had two sacks on Matt Cassel during the Patriots' 30–7 victory at the Minnesota Vikings. [33] On December 16, 2012, Hightower made a season-high eight combined tackles and broke up a pass during their 41–34 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. [70] On November 7, 2017, the New England Patriots placed Hightower on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. Free shipping for many products! NFL Pro Line by Fanatics Branded Dont'a Hightower New England Patriots Navy Team Authentic Stack Name & Number T-Shirt. 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. . They went on to defeat the Houston Texans in the Divisional round and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game. He collected 98 tackles, two sacks, and seven forced fumbles, while at tight end, he caught 18 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns.[3]. . $7.59. Retirement was never an option for Dont’a Hightower during his opt-out, Dont’a Hightower has no regrets about his opt-out: ‘If I had to do it again, I’d definitely do it the same way’, Bill Belichick on Dont’a Hightower’s return: ‘He’s worked right in very quickly’, Jerod Mayo on the presence and absence of Dont’a Hightower: ‘I’m excited to get him back in the building’. 15 inside linebacker in the nation in 2008. $29.99 $49.99. [69] The knee injury unfortunately sidelined Hightower for the next two games (Weeks 2–3). For the Patriots, the four-year, $43.5 million deal looks to be a solid number for Hightower. Cart 0 Product Products (empty) No products Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower apparently hasn't decided whether he'll return in 2021. Serving as an off-the-ball linebacker who has also proven himself capable of lining up outside the formation as an edge defender, he is projected to resume a similar role coming off his opt-out and to see considerable snaps again in 2020. In trouble and decked at the twenty-five by Hightower. We won the superbowl!!!! Reduced: $33.74 Regular: $44.99 You Save: $11.25. Found insideAllworld tight end Rob Gronkowski missed some time with a number of problems. On defense, their best linebacker, Dont'a Hightower, was lost in October with ... [37], On October 20, 2013, Hightower recorded 11 combined tackles (seven solo) during a 30–27 loss at the New York Jets. Dont'a Hightower was not one of them. [76] The Patriots finished the season 11–5, again clinching the AFC East. What is his projected role? He also added 875 yards and 19 touchdowns on offense. $19.99 $35.99. 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