[3] After growing to 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) prior to his junior year, Hightower was moved to linebacker and tight end. The Patriots secured their victory the next play after teammate Malcolm Butler intercepted a pass by Russell Wilson. Posted eight tackles, including two for losses, in the AFC Divisional win vs. Baltimore (1/10). Posted 10 tackles, including three for losses, and one sack for a loss of 9 yards at Green Bay (11/30). [11] True freshman Nico Johnson replaced him at weak side linebacker. Eclipsed 100 tackles on the season for the first time. On this day, April 26, five and nine years ago, respectively, Hightower and Edelman were selected as New England Patriots draft picks. The Chiefs, not the Patriots, were making them. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah explains why the New England Patriots might decide to trade quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for draft picks if they lose linebacker Dont'a Hightower. Posted a season-high 13 tackles and a half-sack at Buffalo (9/20). 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. Hightower missed two consecutive games (Weeks 5–6) due to a knee. He made a key play near the end of the fourth quarter, tackling Marshawn Lynch at the one-yard line to prevent a touchdown that would have given the Seahawks the lead. Started 42-of-44 games at Alabama – 26 at weak-side linebacker and 16 at middle linebacker. [72] They went on to defeat the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Divisional round and the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Championship game before losing 41–33 to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII. Started at linebacker and finished with one tackle before exiting the game in the fourth quarter due to injury in the win vs. Atlanta (10/22). Was inactive due to injury for the win at Buffalo (9/29). Earned the starting linebacker job out of training camp and went on to appear in 14 games with 13 starts, compiling 75 tackles, four sacks, three passes defensed and two fumble recoveries - one of which he returned for a touchdown in his first NFL game at Tennessee (9/9). Draft Info. [43] It marked his first career multi-sack game. Hightower, a former first round-pick, longstanding starter and major contributor to New England’s defense, released a statement to explain why he’s skipping this season. Hightower recorded two solo tackles, one sack, and forced a fumble. On January 11, 2014, Hightower collected eight combined tackles, broke up a pass, and intercepted a pass by Andrew Luck during a 43–22 win against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional round. Earned Pro Bowl honors following the 2016 and 2019 seasons. Jets (10/25).Â. [31] The injury sidelined him for the next two games (Weeks 5–6). Started all five regular-season games he appeared in and totaled 14 tackles and two sacks before suffering a season-ending injury and being placed on injured reserve on Nov. 7. He was subsequently named to numerous Freshman All-American teams.[8][9][10]. The 8th player drafted by the Tide was Trent Richardson who was the No. Started all 12 regular-season games he played in and finished second on the team with 92 tackles, a career-high six sacks, two passes defensed and one forced fumble. Cannon, meanwhile, is a survivor of Non-Hodgkins’ lymphoma. Originally drafted by New England in the first round (25th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.