Saban: Hightower’s knee injury to require surgery in blow to nation’s No. 2 defense

Saban: Hightower’s knee injury to require surgery

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 3 Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower will have knee surgery and miss the rest of the season.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said Sunday that an MRI confirmed that Hightower had ligament damage in his left knee. The sophomore inside linebacker was helped off the field in the first quarter of Saturday’s 35-7 win over Arkansas.

Saban did not release specifics about the injury. He said Hightower was expected to make a full recovery.

Hightower was a key player on the nation’s No. 2 defense alongside All-American Rolando McClain. Saban called him one of the Tide’s best players.

Hightower started 12 games as a freshman and is one of only 11 freshmen to start a season opener for Alabama since 1972.