Athleticism:

A physically imposing linebacker who is listed at 6’4 260. Has the build of an old school thumper. Obviously not the fastest linebacker out there and I’ll be surprised if he runs faster than a 4.7/4.8. However, plays fast in tight areas and allows him to excel at finding the ball carrier through traffic. Quite nimble for his size. Lacks an explosive first step both when at linebacker and when playing as an end. Doesn’t have great sideline-to-sideline range and is best suited playing inside.

Grade: 2.0

Instincts:

Smart and aggressive linebacker. Generally reads plays well and is quick to attack. Due to his aggressive nature he will get caught up on play action from time to time and he lacks the speed to recover. Has a great sense through traffic and knows where the runners going to go. Finds the ball well in coverage and reads quarterbacks eyes with ease.

Grade: 4.0

Point of Attack:

Excellent at the point of attack. Comes down hill hard and attacks the line of scrimmage. Can stack-and-shed as he uses his strength, length, and hands to fight off blocks. Has a great feel through traffic. Unselfish and will take up blockers so that his teammates can make a play. Takes good angles and does a great job of keeping contain and plugging up running lanes.

Grade: 5.0

Coverage:

Lacks straight line speed but holds his own in coverage. Surprisingly agile for his size and can stick with most tight ends. Not asked to play a lot of man coverage and is clearly better in zone. Reads the quarterbacks eyes well and anticipates allowing him to get a quicker jump. Has long arms that can help him break up passes. Needs to get a better drop in zone as he tends to kind of just shuffle back. Less comfortable the further he is from the line of scrimmage. Will have trouble with more athletic tight ends, especially in man coverage.

Grade: 2.5

Pass Rush:

Blitzes quite a bit and is used as an end when Alabama goes to its 4-3 sets. Lacks a great burst but has a powerful bull rush. Can get under lineman and drive them back into the pocket. Tight ends are routinely over-matched against him. Would actually not be out of place as a 4-3 left end although he’d need to work on cleaning up his technique. Lacks the speed and burst to be a dominant edge rusher.

Grade: 3.0

Tackling:

Punishing tackler who rarely misses once he grabs a hold of the runner. Wraps up well and brings more than just a pop when hitting. Does a great job of making tackles through traffic. Is routinely at the bottom of the pile with the runners legs in his grasp. Might have some difficulty tackling shiftier players in space.

Grade: 4.0

Intangibles:

Started as a true freshman for one of the best defenses in the country. Versatile, but will be best suited to playing inside in a 3-4 scheme. Has the ability to play end in a 4-3. Has some injury concerns as he tore his ACL in 2009 but has been clean since. Regarded as a great leader and has no known off-field issues.

Grade: 3.0

Outlook:

Hightower looks and plays like a prototypical 3-4 ILB. He’s a classic thumper who plays the run extremely well and can deliver some punishing blows. He’s not the greatest coverage linebacker, although he holds his own, and he won’t run a 4.5 but he’s quality linebacker who can be an instant starter from day one and play at a high level. All 3-4 teams who need help inside should take a hard look at him.