Idaho ties in the NFL: Eagles rookie Hightower shows playmaking ability in training camp
The Philadelphia Eagles have completed four days of NFL training camp at NovaCare Complex in Philadelphia. Day 4 was rookie receiver John Hightower’s turn to shine.
Multiple media outlets in attendance said the Boise State product and 2020 fifth-round pick made a strong impression Thursday.
A video posted to Twitter by Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com shows Hightower give cornerback Darius Slay the shake in a 1-on-1 drill. In the same set of drills, Hightower beat Rasul Douglas on a comeback route.
Hightower also was credited with a diving catch in traffic during team drills on a pass over the middle from quarterback Nate Sudfeld.
Then in 7-on-7 work, Hightower hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass on a deep ball from rookie QB Jalen Hurts, beating the coverage of Slay and safety Jalen Mills.
“It was a good pass,” Mills told Dave Zangaro of NBCSports.com. “Held it kind of long, but it’s 7-on-7. It’s an offense thing.”
Hightower led Boise State last season with 943 receiving yards and eight touchdowns through the air, and he ranked No. 3 in the Mountain West with 24.6 yards per kick return. He showed off his track speed at the NFL Scouting Combine with a time of 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
NFL teams must set their 53-man rosters by 2 p.m. MT on Saturday, Sept. 5. There are currently 31 players with Gem State ties in training camps. They won’t get a chance to shine in preseason games because those have been canceled this year.
BOISE STATE
T, Ezra Cleveland, No. 72 Minnesota Vikings
OLB, Kamalei Correa, No. 40 Tennessee Titans
DL, Tyrone Crawford, No. 98 Dallas Cowboys (PUP list — physically unable to perform)
DB, Donte Deayon, No. 21 Los Angeles Rams
QB, Ryan Finley, No. 5 Cincinnati Bengals
C, Marcus Henry, No. 62 Dallas Cowboys
WR, John Hightower, No. 82 Philadelphia Eagles
DE, DeMarcus Lawrence, No. 90 Dallas Cowboys
OL, Charles Leno Jr., No. 72 Chicago Bears
RB, Alexander Mattison, No. 25 Minnesota Vikings
DT, David Moa, No. 60 Minnesota Vikings
G, John Molchon, No. 75 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
C, Matt Paradis (Council High), No. 61 Carolina Panthers
WR, A.J. Richardson, No. 83 Arizona Cardinals
QB, Brett Rypien, No. 4 Denver Broncos
CB, Jamar Taylor, No. 32 San Francisco 49ers
S, Darian Thompson, No. 23 Dallas Cowboys
ILB, Tanner Vallejo, No. 51 Arizona Cardinals
LB, Leighton Vander Esch (Salmon River High), No. 55 Dallas Cowboys
DE, Curtis Weaver, No. 96 Miami Dolphins
WR, Cedrick Wilson, No. 11 Dallas Cowboys
IDAHO
WR, Jeff Cotton, No. 8 Los Angeles Chargers
G/T, Jesse Davis, No. 77 Miami Dolphins
LB, Kaden Elliss, No. 55 New Orleans Saints
G, Mike Iupati, No. 70 Seattle Seahawks
DE, Benson Mayowa, No. 95 Seattle Seahawks
RB, Elijhaa Penny, No. 39 New York Giants
IDAHO STATE
TE, Josh Hill (Blackfoot High), No. 89 New Orleans Saints
HIGH SCHOOLS
DE, Porter Gustin (Emmett High), No. 97 Cleveland Browns
QB, Taysom Hill (Highland High), No. 7 New Orleans Saints
DL, Jonah Williams (Rocky Mountain High), No. 62 Los Angeles Rams
