Question: Donta' Hightower - going or staying?

[rgw]

Even if Julio waited it out this year because of AJ Green and Blackmon...he'd still have Alshon Jeffery potentially going before him in 2012. I think he's maximized his stock as much as he can at the college level and he'll likely be gone after the Capital One Bowl. It would be great if he came back though.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Even if Julio waited it out this year because of AJ Green and Blackmon...he'd still have Alshon Jeffery potentially going before him in 2012. I think he's maximized his stock as much as he can at the college level and he'll likely be gone after the Capital One Bowl. It would be great if he came back though.

I would agree that logic would indicate he should go. However, JJ marches to a different drummer...

 

[skipster63]

He definitely would benefit from one more year. He is just now getting back to full speed.

 

[UAME]

I would agree that logic would indicate he should go. However, JJ marches to a different drummer...

Let's hope that drummer is in the MDB!

Late in the season, one of the "insiders" from this board indicated to me via PM that we should expect to lose ALL of our higher profile juniors (JJ, MI, DH, MB, and even Upshaw.) This was not based on concrete information, just a combination of circumstances including a few guys needing NFL money for their families, even if it was late-round money. So, any news to the contrary that indicates one of these guys will stay for 2011 will just be icing on the cake for me. I'm just not going to get my hopes up until the deadline to declare has passed.

 

[Henryrolltide]

I really wish he would hang around another year, but I can't say that I blame him. Wish him the best either way.

 

[BamaFossil]

I hope he has some good advisors - not agents! - who can help him see the pros and cons of the decision. I think the Bama coaches can help greatly and not be self-serving in their recommendations. In general, if he has a reasonable shot at first or second round money, I think he should go. Football is fickle; a point he clearly understands.

 

[b2v4ua]

I hope he stays. Everytime we finally get some experienced, leadership guys ..off they go to the NFL. We can't get people to stay their Sr. year so we can have some good leadership. I know it is because they are very talented and good material for the pros but wouldn't it be nice to have some talented guys as Srs. to stay and finish out. I still have my doubts about MI as he didn't have the year he thought and everybody else thought he would . His numbers are down from last year and he really hasn't proven himself after his injury. I love MI and wish him the best at whatever he does..but I hope he and Hightower and some others stay.

 

[ValuJet]

Of course, I hope Hightower stays. I watched him at the Ole Miss game - off camera. The way he leads his own players as well as the way he interacts with the other team shows some true leadership and he's a great on-field ambassador for Tide Tradition and sportsmanship.

If he goes, all the best to him.

 

[TheRealPokeChop]

I hope he stays. Everytime we finally get some experienced, leadership guys ..off they go to the NFL. We can't get people to stay their Sr. year so we can have some good leadership. I know it is because they are very talented and good material for the pros but wouldn't it be nice to have some talented guys as Srs. to stay and finish out. I still have my doubts about MI as he didn't have the year he thought and everybody else thought he would . His numbers are down from last year and he really hasn't proven himself after his injury. I love MI and wish him the best at whatever he does..but I hope he and Hightower and some others stay.

I cant really think of a lot of leadership people who've left after their junior year over the past few years. Ro would be the only one that comes to mind.

 

[rangerman]

i he leaves he will be lucky to make the second round so he should stay and imporove his stock.

 

[mulletover]

I still have my doubts about MI as he didn't have the year he thought and everybody else thought he would . His numbers are down from last year and he really hasn't proven himself after his injury. I love MI and wish him the best at whatever he does..but I hope he and Hightower and some others stay.

MI is projected as the #22 pick (ironic huh) in the first round. The knee injury and weak OL play hurt his stock.

 

[BAMAFAN IN NY]

I don't think this year hurt Ingrams stock.. Maybe a couple spots.. But running backs don't usually go very high anyway

 

[mikeua69]

MI is projected as the #22 pick (ironic huh) in the first round. The knee injury and weak OL play hurt his stock.

He's still projected as the first RB taken in the draft. A few of the ones I've seen have him going #18 to the Dolphins.

 

[gamersfuel]

If Hightower is a 2nd round pick i wouldnt blame him for going. We have no idea what his financial situation is. Ingrams production this year wont hurt all that much because you can take a look at film and still see glimpses of what he did last year. He didnt just lose his field vision and cut ability overnight.

 

[rangerman]

i think my second round theory is alittle high gamer so dont quote me on it. he has to lose weight about 30 lbs to play like he did his freshman year.

 

[redrock]

Hightower should stay and will have a big year next year, which will raise his NFL stock to 1st round status. (1) He will be one more year removed from the knee injury, healthier, and quicker. (2) He will have some new big uglies up front, such as Jesse Williams and Q. Dial, to keep the lineman off of him so that he can make the plays. Hightower will be in a much better situation to excel next year and raise his stock accordingly.

 

[TheRealPokeChop]

a little off topic but Chase Goodbread has tweeted that Saban said Mark Barron will be ready for spring practice after 3-4 month rehab time. So Saban may be expecting Barron back at least.

fingers crossed on hightower.

 

[herri026]

Although I think he should stay and will be worth a lot more money in the NFL if he does say, I keep hearing that he's going regardless. Fear of reinjury...

And in the NFL, they are crazy about these hybrid DE/OLB types. If DH could go to the combine and be just pretty fast and throw up a bunch of reps on the bench, he could end up being drafted pretty high. They put so much stock into combine numbers. We kept hearing in 2008 and early 2009 how much better an "athlete" he was than Rolando was, even.

Not saying I think it's the best course of action, but I'd still like to see everything go well for DH if he has made up his mind to leave.