Episcopal grad Tim Hightower became the Maroon’s highest-ever draft pick when the Arizona Cardinals selected him with 149th pick in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on April 27.
Hightower starred as a running back, where he was an all-state selection and team captain in 2002 and 2003. An honor roll student throughout high school, he earned three varsity letters in football and two in basketball and track.
During his senior season at the University of Richmond, Hightower was an AP All-American with 1,924 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground, along with 32 catches for 2008 yards and three scores. His senior year rushing total was more than his first three seasons combined, although he did average 5.1 yards per carry on 316 rushes over his sophomore and junior years.
Hightower joins the Cardinals, who already have Edgerrin James, Marcel Shipp and J.J. Arrington in the backfield. According to several scouting services, teams were impressed with the 6-foot, 216-pounder’s ability to get tough yards inside. He projects as a third-down back.
Hightower joins former Maroon standouts like Carter Wiley, who was drafted in the 12th round of the 1988 as a defensive back out of Virginia Tech, and Ed Carrington, who was drafted in the seventh round of the 1967 draft by the then-Houston Oilers.
The previous highest Episcopal selection was Jim Huddleston, who was selected with the 156th pick in the sixth round of the 1986 draft. Huddleston, an offensive guard out of the University of Virginia, played for the Washington Redskins.