Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2012
- Class:
- 2008
Tim Hightower's record-shattering career as a Richmond running back began as a true freshman in 2004 and ended with All-American honors following his senior season in 2007, when he led the Spiders to a CAA Football Championship and a trip to the semifinals of the NCAA Division I playoffs. Hightower's name is etched in the Spider record books for most yards rushing in a game (295 at Bucknell 9/27/07), season (1,924 in 2007) and career (3,712). He also sits atop lists for rushing touchdowns in a season (20, 2007) and career (34).
His memorable 2007 season was highlighted by a four-touchdown, 295 yard rushing game at Bucknell and a four touchdown, 246 yard rushing game at Northeastern, which included a 90-yard TD run, the third longest run from scrimmage in school history. He amassed nine 100-yard games in 2007. Following the season, Hightower was named a Walter Camp Foundation and Sports Network First Team All-American, a College Sporting News and Associated Press Second Team All-American, runner-up for the Dudley Award as the Commonwealth of Virginia's top Division I football player and a finalist for the Payton Award as the nation's top FCS player.
He was selected in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals and went on to score the winning touchdown in the 2008 NFC Championship Game, sending Hightower and the Cardinals to Super Bowl XLIII, where he played against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In July 2011, he was traded to his hometown team, Washington, where he started five of the first six games of 2011 before a knee injury curtailed his season.
Following his playing career, Hightower returned to the Washington Football Team, named Director of Alumni Relations in December 2020, reuniting with former teammate Jason Wright, president of the Washington Football Team.
