Former Alabama LB Dont’a Hightower has exceeded expectations in his NFL career.

Through 4.5 NFL seasons, the former first-round pick has 330 tackles, 16.0 sacks and 11 passes defensed for the New England Patriots, numbers that make him one of New England’s best-ever linebackers.

According to AL.com, it means a lot for Hightower to be mentioned in the same sentence as great New England linebackers like Tedy Bruschi, Jerod Mayo and Mike Vrabel:

“That’s saying a lot right there,” Hightower said. “I definitely lean on a lot of those guys. Still talk to Mayo day in and day out. I talk to Tedy when I can. I talk to Willie Mac (Willie McGinest) throughout the year. Still try to gain a lot of knowledge from those guys. They see a lot of stuff. It says a lot for me to kind of be put in that, and I appreciate it.”

After a Week 6 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Hightower earned the AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, something that he doesn’t take for granted:

“It means a lot,” Hightower said. “Definitely appreciate the recognition, but I think we all know that one guy doesn’t make the team, especially on defense. Definitely have a lot of help with those other 10, 11 guys that help. I was just the only one who was able to get singled out. But I appreciate it.”

On Sunday afternoon against Pittsburgh, Hightower had four tackles in a Patriots’ victory. He and his squad will take on the Buffalo Bills next weekend.