BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
Dontāa Hightower traversed the Wynfrey Hotel lobby last week a SEC Media Days veteran.Not a hitch in his step, not a limp in sight.
He promises the knee troubles of yesterday are gone for good in his second Hoover appearance preceding his fourth year at Alabama. And since the burden of experience and expectations shift back to the defense this fall, the stability of Hightowerās experience and knee ligaments will factor largely into success or failure.
Just like every interview heād faced since the fall of 2009, linebackerās reconstructed joint was the hot topic of conversation.
āI feel like Iām back at 100 percent,ā he said. āI felt like after the A-Day Game, it shows people where I stand. I feel like my pass rush is back. Iām moving better laterally sideline to sideline. I feel like my old self.ā
Hightowerās message was nearly identical last July when making his Media Days debut. Less than a year after he tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus against Arkansas, the linebacker said he was back at full speed.
Though his 69 tackles in 2010 ranked second on the team, Hightower wasnāt always playing the same pre-injury level. He was, after all, a freshman All-American in 2008 when he piled up 64 tackles and high hopes for a dominant career.
The cut block in Bryant-Denny Stadium in September of 2009 interrupted his rise.
Major surgery, a massive brace and a front-row seat for a national championship run kept Hightower from complacency. It took a full season after the 2009 medical redshirt before he felt like he did before the injury.
āThe only time I felt maybe 100 percent was against Michigan State (Capital One Bowl),ā he said. āIn the A-Day Game, I think I went out and set the tone, let people know that last year was a slump. No ifs ands or buts about it. They say after major knee surgery, the second year is when you pick it up.
Read More Here...
He promises the knee troubles of yesterday are gone for good in his second Hoover appearance preceding his fourth year at Alabama. And since the burden of experience and expectations shift back to the defense this fall, the stability of Hightowerās experience and knee ligaments will factor largely into success or failure.
Just like every interview heād faced since the fall of 2009, linebackerās reconstructed joint was the hot topic of conversation.
āI feel like Iām back at 100 percent,ā he said. āI felt like after the A-Day Game, it shows people where I stand. I feel like my pass rush is back. Iām moving better laterally sideline to sideline. I feel like my old self.ā
Hightowerās message was nearly identical last July when making his Media Days debut. Less than a year after he tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus against Arkansas, the linebacker said he was back at full speed.
Though his 69 tackles in 2010 ranked second on the team, Hightower wasnāt always playing the same pre-injury level. He was, after all, a freshman All-American in 2008 when he piled up 64 tackles and high hopes for a dominant career.
The cut block in Bryant-Denny Stadium in September of 2009 interrupted his rise.
Major surgery, a massive brace and a front-row seat for a national championship run kept Hightower from complacency. It took a full season after the 2009 medical redshirt before he felt like he did before the injury.
āThe only time I felt maybe 100 percent was against Michigan State (Capital One Bowl),ā he said. āIn the A-Day Game, I think I went out and set the tone, let people know that last year was a slump. No ifs ands or buts about it. They say after major knee surgery, the second year is when you pick it up.
Read More Here...
