‘Superstar’ LB Coach Dont’a Hightower Receives Rave Reviews

Dont’a Hightower hasn’t coached a single NFL game yet, but one of his fellow Patriots assistant coaches believes the former Pro Bowler is on his way to becoming a star in the league’s coaching ranks.

Outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins said he was most impressed with Hightower’s mix of communication skills, enthusiasm and football knowledge.

“I think as a coach, he has no limits. This guy is going to be a head coach in the NFL,” Wilkins told reporters, according to MassLive. “He’s so smart. He’s such a good communicator. And he understands the game at such a high level, which makes sense when you consider the defenses he’s played on.”

“He got to play with Coach Mayo. He was coached by Coach Mayo. He was around some great people. … He’s a superstar in the league that we all get to be around every day.”

Hightower, a two-time Pro Bowler as a player, joined the Patriots this offseason after Jerod Mayo was promoted from linebackers coach to head coach.

Hightower, a Tennessee native, said Mayo was one of the players he looked up to when he was younger because they both played linebacker and Mayo was a star at the University of Tennessee.

After playing together in New England, Hightower now has the opportunity to learn under Mayo as a member of his team.

“Obviously, meeting him for the first time, I didn’t want to come off as a big fan or anything,” Hightower said. “But Mayo being Mayo, his personality, his attitude and his acceptance was huge for me as someone who looked up to him. He’s a big brother. He’s a coach now, but he’s still someone I can count on and come back and talk to.”

Hightower won a pair of national titles during his college career at Alabama and three Super Bowls with the Patriots, and even with all his accomplishments, the 34-year-old first-year coach still finds excitement in the game.

“I try to instill in them all these things that I’ve been given,” Hightower said. “When (Raekwon McMillan) makes a big play or (Ja’Whaun Bentley) gets an interception or (Christian) Ellis has a great coverage or Joe Giles does something great in practice, I’m just as excited as they are.”

“(Bentley) had an interception yesterday and I ran 30 yards. I’m as excited for them as I would be for myself.”

Hightower didn’t participate in joint workouts until a few years ago as a player. With the Philadelphia Eagles coming to Foxborough for a joint workout with the Patriots followed by a preseason game, Hightower outlined what he looks for in players.

“I think we have to be able to change sides, play a different team, play a different scheme. We have to be able to work on our fundamentals and our skills. I think that’s the biggest thing we’re trying to do. We’ve done that with our offense, but it can get a little monotonous.”

“So just being able to play a different team… coming out with good fundamentals, learning from it, learning some of the scheme and going out the next day trying to do better.”