FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 5, 2021) – While he may be still just a freshman on the field, and a sophomore in the classroom, there's no doubt
Kamdan Hightower's perspective is anything but that of an underclassman.
Looking to leave Northern Arizona University with a business degree, and holding a cumulative GPA of a 4.0, Hightower's already turned his focus on how to best brand himself presently as an athlete and in the future in the business world.
"I have an opportunity right now to build my own personal brand just through me playing sports which is a huge advantage," Hightower said. "It's like a jump start to everyone else in the business world. I have an opportunity to go out, build a fan base and build a viewing that one day I can hopefully translate over to the business world."
Hightower wasted no time in generating attention on a larger scale. Picking off a pass from Southern Utah quarterback Justin Miller early on in the spring season opener, Hightower took the pass back 58 yards for a touchdown. It was the first touchdown of the season for the Lumberjacks, and the first game of Hightower's career.
The clip, now viewed more than 10,000 times on Twitter, is just a small example of the exposure college athletes can generate to those off the field.
"It's a blessing," Hightower said. "All glory to god, but there's a lot of hard work that goes into it. Anything that we got to do, we've got to work hard at."
Hightower landed on business as the obvious choice for his degree after taking a look around his hometown of Scottsdale, Ariz. The choice seemed like a natural fit, with Hightower adding the competition within the world of business being adaptable after spending years playing sports. In just his third semester of college after graduating from Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Hightower said he felt the competitive nature of the two can translate and is something he's grown up with dating back to his earliest days on the football field.
"You've got to be competitive to go out there and do anything in this world, so I feel like I have a good opportunity by being a competitive business man," Hightower said. "I've been playing football since the third grade, so it's always just been in my blood and I feel like it's something that is in your heart."
While he's looking forward to his future on the field, with plenty of years of eligibility remaining, Hightower said the opportunity to walk away from Northern Arizona is not one he or any other athlete should take lightly.
Citing head coach
Chris Ball, the rest of Northern Arizona's football staff and the department's student-athlete academic support, Hightower said it has all played a large part in his mindset.
"Obviously the team GPA is the highest it has been since in school history," Hightower said of Northern Arizona's recent improvement in the classroom. "It's played a big role and they always say the small things matter, so what we are doing inside the classroom is the same thing we are doing here on the field.
"It's not necessarily that I am planning for after my football career, because I am definitely in the moment right now, playing as much football as I can and the best football I can," Hightower added. "But I think it is important to know why we go to universities. That's to get a degree and get an education because honestly that's my future."
