Forrest Hightower Season 2013

AT SAN JOSÉ STATE: Completed five seasons with the Spartans... Played in 47 games with 16 starts during his four active seasons... Saw action at safety, cornerback, a nickel back in passing situations and as a kickoff returner... His 11 unassisted tackles in the 2013 Nevada game are the most by a Spartan since the 2011 season.

2014: Played in all 12 games and started nine times... Part of the defensive secondary that led all Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams in fewest passing yards allowed (117.8/game)... Sixth on the team in tackles with 51... His 2.5 tackles for loss in the season-opening win vs. North Dakota (8/28) was a personal single-game best and tops by a Spartan in a game for the season... Intercepted a pass for the third season in a row with his takeaway in the Minnesota game (9/20)... Notched his first major college unassisted sack in the UNLV victory (10/4)... Had a season-high nine tackles at Navy (10/25).

2013: Played in all 12 games primarily at a safety position... A starter for the first time as a Spartan and was in the starting lineup for seven games... Third on the team in tackles with 63... Topped all players in the secondary for number of tackles... Was credited with a tackle in 11 out of 12 games... Single-game career best 13 stops against Nevada (11/16)... His 11 unassisted tackles in the Nevada game were the Spartans' individual single-game high for the season... Also was in on nine stops at Hawai'i (10/5) and eight in the win over #16-Fresno State... His one interception led to the fourth-quarter, game-clinching touchdown drive at UNLV (11/2).

2012: Played in 12 games... Saw action on special teams and as a reserve defensive back particularly in passing situations... Credited with 10 tackles on the season... Matched his season-best three tackles and had his first career interception in the New Mexico State win (11/10)... Established himself as a kickoff return threat at the end of the season... Averaged 30.0 yards per return and had a season-long 47-yard return in the Louisiana Tech win (11/24)... With his interception, averaged 32.0 yards per return every time he touched the football.

2011: Played in 11 games... Saw action on special teams, as a reserve cornerback and as a nickel back in passing situations... Had an assisted tackle versus Nevada (9/17) and at Colorado State (10/1).

2010: Completed a redshirt season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered in football (Coach Brian Hamilton) and basketball at Concord (Calif.) High...A CalHiSports.com second-team all-state defensive back his senior season...Named to the Contra Costa Times Cream of the Crop listing as one of the 20 best players in the East Bay... San Francisco Chronicle honorable mention All-Metro team and an All-Diablo Valley League pick... All-purpose back rushed for 865 yards for a 7.5 yards per carry average, 26 receptions for 290 yards and five touchdowns, and an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown... As a junior, he rushed 130 times for 1,273 yards and 16 touchdowns... A guard on the boys' basketball team.

MORE ON FORREST: A May 2014 graduate who majored in communication studies... One of three 2010 freshmen named to the Bay Area News Group's East Bay Prep Athletes of the Year...The native of Oakland, Calif., was born on March 15, 1992.

CAREER STATISTICS