Dont'a Hightower
Biography
Dont'a Hightower was a versatile force who could play any linebacker position. He was a key leader on two national championship teams. His physicality set the tone for the greatest defenses in Alabama history.
Rivalry Context
Dont'a Hightower is tracked in the Iron Bowl History archive as a linebacker connected to Alabama during the 2008-2011 period. The profile is intended to place the person in rivalry context rather than serve as a complete career biography.
The recorded Iron Bowl mark for this profile is 3-1. Records are presented as rivalry-specific context and should be read alongside the linked game pages when a notable game is available.
Dont'a Hightower's profile includes 4 documented achievements, including 2x National Champion (2009, 2011) and All-American (2011).
The notable game links below connect this profile to 2 Iron Bowl archive entries, making the biographical note part of the broader game-by-game record.
Achievements
- 2x National Champion (2009, 2011)
- All-American (2011)
- First Round NFL Pick
- 3x Super Bowl Champion
Notable Iron Bowl Games
The 2009 Iron Bowl was the hurdle Alabama had to clear to reach perfection. At 11-0, the #2 Crimson Tide entered Jordan-Hare Stadium facing a 7-4 Auburn team that played its best game of the season. The result was a classic that came down to a legendary final possession. Trailing 21-20 with under eight minutes to play, Alabama took over at their own 21-yard line. What followed was "The Drive." Quarterback Greg McElroy engineered a methodical, 15-play, 79-yard march that consumed over seven minutes of clock. Facing intense pressure, McElroy made clutch throws, including a key third-down conversion to Julio Jones. With 1:24 remaining, McElroy found Roy Upchurch in the flat for a 4-yard touchdown. The 26-21 victory preserved the perfect season, leading to an SEC Championship win over Florida and Alabama's first national title under Nick Saban.
The 2011 Iron Bowl was a statement game for an Alabama team seeking vengeance and a shot at the national title. After blowing a 24-0 lead the previous year in the "Camback," Alabama returned to Jordan-Hare Stadium and left no doubt, crushing Auburn 42-14. Running back Trent Richardson put on a clinic, rushing for a career-high 203 yards on 27 carries. He was a bowling ball of knives, breaking tackles and dragging defenders at will. His performance controlled the clock and demoralized the Auburn defense. Quarterback AJ McCarron was surgical, throwing three touchdown passes to balance the attack. Auburn's offense, devoid of Cam Newton, had no answers. They managed just 140 total yards against one of the greatest defenses in college football history.