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Houston Roughnecks sign Brian Hightower and Isaiah Battle

Theo

With a few spots available, the Houston Roughnecks have made a few additions. WR Brian Hightower and OT Isaiah Battle signed with the team, to provide depth at both positions.

WR Brian Hightower

Brian Hightower joins the Houston Roughnecks as a UDFA eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft. This is the third player signed by Houston who has just played college football in 2023 (Jamari Brown, AJ Lewis).

Hightower spent the majority of his college football at Illinois, accumulating over 800 yards and six touchdowns during his career there from 2017 to 2022. In 2023, he transferred to California. There, he caught 10 passes for 101 yards during his senior year.

With the recent release of Isiah Hennie, Hightower now fills another spot at wide receiver.

OT Isaiah Battle

Isaiah Battle is no stranger to spring football. He was with the Houston Roughnecks during training camp this year. The battle was interrupted before the start of the season.

In 2020, Isaiah played with the Seattle Dragons of the XFL. Last year, in 2023, he started four of five games played for the New Jersey Generals. He finished the 2023 season with a 53.3 offensive rating via PFF.

The battle brings depth to the offensive line room. It appears Isaiah is replacing quarterback Kenji Bahar, who is no longer needed given the return of Jarrett Guarantano.

Final Thoughts

The Houston Roughnecks need to get things done quickly. With just four weeks remaining, their 1-5 record won’t be enough for the playoffs.

It’s been fascinating to watch general manager Lionel Vital’s strategies unfold this year. He brought in quite a bit of talent that hadn’t played much on the professional scene before, and Brian Hightower is another example.

Houston will play the San Antonio Brahmas this weekend, hoping to get back into the win column.

What do you think about Brian Hightower signing with the Houston Roughnecks? Will Isaiah Battle work in the rotation? Let us know in the comments below or join the conversation on Discord!

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