Tim Hightower certainly hasn’t forgotten where he’s came from.
The University of Richmond alum proudly wore his alma mater’s hat Monday morning as he signed his contract, signfying his official return with his hometown Washington Redskins.
Hightower — an Alexandria, Va., native, where he grew up less than 20 minutes away from Washington D.C. — played collegiately for the Spiders. While there, he set school career records for rushing yards (3,617), all-purpose yards (4,448), rushing touchdowns (34) and total touchdowns (39) in 49 career games.
In 2007, Hightower earned first-team All-American and unanimous All-Colonial Athletic Association honors as a senior after setting the school’s single-season rushing records for yardage (1,924) and touchdowns (20).
Hightower late Sunday also announced via his Twitter he was “baaaaaaaack” and attached a picture of himself wearing a Washington Redskins hat:
I'm baaaaaaaack http://t.co/9qG4TDTB—
Tim Hightower (@Tim_Hightower) May 14, 2012
Hightower’s signing means the Redskins have at least three running backs capable of rushing for 100 yards on any given Sunday.
Roy Helu Jr. and Evan Royster rushed for a combined 968 yards in their 2011 rookie campaigns, and Helu said Hightower’s veteran presence was a big part of that.
“I appreciate Tim’s leadership,” Helu said. “That’s my man right there, and I count him in when I think about (the 2012) season).”
In 2011, Hightower started the first five games of the season, totaling 321 yards on 84 carries with one rushing touchdown. He also added 10 receptions for 78 yards and recorded the first receiving touchdown of his career.
His season was cut short in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers when he tore his ACL.
Here’s a video from Hightower’s alma mater showcasing the running back’s first game last season against the New York Giants. Interesting note: Hightower was kicking field goals during his pre-game warmup:
