Jacob Hester
Encyclopedia
Jacob Troy Hester is a fullback
for the San Diego Chargers
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Chargers in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Louisiana State University
.
in Shreveport, Louisiana
where in 2002 he was named Louisiana 5A Offensive MVP. He is the son of Joey and Nancy Hester of Shreveport, Louisiana. He rushed for 868 yards and 22 touchdowns on 182 carries, leading his team to the 5A championship game his senior year. During his junior year, he led his team to the state title, rushing for 1,593 yards and 24 touchdowns on 222 attempts in 2002. He remains good friends with his Evangel teammate, former USC
starting quarterback John David Booty
, an NFL free agent who most recently played for the Houston Texans
. He and his wife, Katie, had a son, Jackson, in September 2009.
one game and seeing action in the other 11. He ran for 123 yards on 20 carries in his rookie
year, and added two pass receptions for 21 yards. He also made nine tackles
on special teams.
In 2005, Hester started one of LSU's 13 games. In the Peach Bowl against Miami
, which the Tigers won, he had 13 rushing attempts and gained 70 yards. For the season, Hester ran the ball 25 times for 114 yards, scoring two Touchdowns. In addition, he had 11 receptions for 63 yards; his reception total was second-highest for the team's running backs. He also participated in special teams, recording 14 tackles.
As a junior in 2006, he saw playing time at multiple positions: tailback and fullback
. Hester had 35 pass receptions for 269 yards, and ran for 440 yards, while also notching seven tackles on special teams.
As a senior in 2007, the Tigers selected him to be a team captain
. He was the starting tailback for the Tigers. He rushed 225 times for 1,103 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added a touchdown catch, and totalled 14 receptions for 106 yards. In LSU's 14 games during the 2007 season, Hester led the Tigers in rushing 10 times. His first 100 yard game came against Florida
. Hester gained 106 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown. He was recognized as SEC
Offensive Player of the Week and the Sporting News National Player of the Week following the game. Hester's longest run of the season came on an 87-yard touchdown against Louisiana Tech
. In LSU's loss to Arkansas
, Hester had the most rushing yards of his college career—126 on 28 attempts. In the final game of his college career in the national championship game
against Ohio State
he rushed 21 times for 86 yards and a touchdown. He did all of this while being a part of a five-man rotation with Keiland Williams
, Trindon Holliday
, Charles Scott, and Richard Murphy.
in the third round (69th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft
with the intention of being converted into a versatile, pass-catching Norv Turner
style fullback. On July 18, he signed a four-year contract that included a $833,000 signing bonus. His 2008 salary total was $1,128,850.
In his preseason debut with the Chargers, Hester rushed for 49 yards over 13 carries, and scored two touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys
. In the Chargers' preseason game against the St. Louis Rams
, Hester carried for 59 yards in 12 carries.
Hester scored his first regular-season touchdown against the Colts on November 23, on a one-yard pass from Philip Rivers
. Despite fumbling only once in over 460 touches for LSU, Hester fumbled in Week 6 against the Patriots on only his second NFL carry.
Hester was given charge of the play call on punts, and in a game at Atlanta, Hester noticed a different formation from the Falcons and checked off to a fake. David Binn
snapped the ball short to Hester, and with receiver Legedu Naanee
blocking the defensive end, Hester ran for a 28-yard gain.
Despite primarily being a halfback
his entire college career, Hester displayed his improved blocking ability in the 2008 wild-card playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts
, laying a block that effectively took two men out of the play and sprung Darren Sproles to the game-winning score on a 22-yard burst 7:20 minutes into overtime, capping an impressive upset playoff win over the Indianapolis Colts
.
For the 2008 season, Hester finished with a total of 95 rushing yards on only 19 carries. He also gained 91 yards on 12 receptions.
In 2009 Hester had a blocked punt return for a TD against the Chiefs and a fumble recovery TD on a punt against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Chargers in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Louisiana State University
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
.
Early years and Personal Life
Hester attended Evangel Christian AcademyEvangel Christian Academy
Evangel Christian Academy is a preparatory school in Shreveport, Louisiana with two campus spanning K-12, owned & operated privately in association with Shreveport Community Church which is located on the property of the grade school sister campus.-History:Rodney and Frances Duron, parents of the...
in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
where in 2002 he was named Louisiana 5A Offensive MVP. He is the son of Joey and Nancy Hester of Shreveport, Louisiana. He rushed for 868 yards and 22 touchdowns on 182 carries, leading his team to the 5A championship game his senior year. During his junior year, he led his team to the state title, rushing for 1,593 yards and 24 touchdowns on 222 attempts in 2002. He remains good friends with his Evangel teammate, former USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
starting quarterback John David Booty
John David Booty
John David Booty is an American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He last played for the Houston Texans until being cut on September 4, 2010. He played college football at USC.Booty has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans...
, an NFL free agent who most recently played for the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He and his wife, Katie, had a son, Jackson, in September 2009.
College career
In 2004, Hester played as a freshman, startingStarting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
one game and seeing action in the other 11. He ran for 123 yards on 20 carries in his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
year, and added two pass receptions for 21 yards. He also made nine tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
on special teams.
In 2005, Hester started one of LSU's 13 games. In the Peach Bowl against Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
, which the Tigers won, he had 13 rushing attempts and gained 70 yards. For the season, Hester ran the ball 25 times for 114 yards, scoring two Touchdowns. In addition, he had 11 receptions for 63 yards; his reception total was second-highest for the team's running backs. He also participated in special teams, recording 14 tackles.
As a junior in 2006, he saw playing time at multiple positions: tailback and fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
. Hester had 35 pass receptions for 269 yards, and ran for 440 yards, while also notching seven tackles on special teams.
As a senior in 2007, the Tigers selected him to be a team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
. He was the starting tailback for the Tigers. He rushed 225 times for 1,103 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added a touchdown catch, and totalled 14 receptions for 106 yards. In LSU's 14 games during the 2007 season, Hester led the Tigers in rushing 10 times. His first 100 yard game came against Florida
2007 Florida Gators football team
The 2007 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2007 college football season...
. Hester gained 106 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown. He was recognized as SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Offensive Player of the Week and the Sporting News National Player of the Week following the game. Hester's longest run of the season came on an 87-yard touchdown against Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
. In LSU's loss to Arkansas
2007 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
The 2007 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2007–2008 football season. The Razorbacks played six home games at Donald W...
, Hester had the most rushing yards of his college career—126 on 28 attempts. In the final game of his college career in the national championship game
2008 BCS National Championship Game
The 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 7, 2008, and featured the #1 and #2 college football teams in the United States as determined by the BCS Poll to decide the BCS National Championship for the 2007...
against Ohio State
2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team competed in football on behalf of the Ohio State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio...
he rushed 21 times for 86 yards and a touchdown. He did all of this while being a part of a five-man rotation with Keiland Williams
Keiland Williams
Keiland Terrell Williams is an American football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2010...
, Trindon Holliday
Trindon Holliday
Trindon Holliday is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
, Charles Scott, and Richard Murphy.
Pre-draft
| Pre-draft measureables | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | Weight | 40-yard dash 40 yard dash The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football... |
10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20 ss 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3-cone 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vert Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
Broad | BP Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Wonderlic | |||||||||
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| 5-10⅝* | 226 * | 4.62 * | 1.50 * | 2.67 * | 4.24 * | 6.85 * | 27½" * | 9'03" * | 23 * | 23 * | |||||||||
| * represents NFL Combine NFL Combine The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general... |
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San Diego Chargers
Hester was drafted by the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round (69th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
with the intention of being converted into a versatile, pass-catching Norv Turner
Norv Turner
Norval Eugene Turner is the head coach for the National Football League's San Diego Chargers. He also has served as head coach of the Washington Redskins and the Oakland Raiders, and as offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and San Francisco 49ers...
style fullback. On July 18, he signed a four-year contract that included a $833,000 signing bonus. His 2008 salary total was $1,128,850.
In his preseason debut with the Chargers, Hester rushed for 49 yards over 13 carries, and scored two touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. In the Chargers' preseason game against the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, Hester carried for 59 yards in 12 carries.
Hester scored his first regular-season touchdown against the Colts on November 23, on a one-yard pass from Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
. Despite fumbling only once in over 460 touches for LSU, Hester fumbled in Week 6 against the Patriots on only his second NFL carry.
Hester was given charge of the play call on punts, and in a game at Atlanta, Hester noticed a different formation from the Falcons and checked off to a fake. David Binn
David Binn
David Aaron Binn is an American football long snapper who is currently a free agent.He played college football for the University of California, Berkeley. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 1994....
snapped the ball short to Hester, and with receiver Legedu Naanee
Legedu Naanee
Legedu A. Naanee is an American football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
blocking the defensive end, Hester ran for a 28-yard gain.
Despite primarily being a halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
his entire college career, Hester displayed his improved blocking ability in the 2008 wild-card playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, laying a block that effectively took two men out of the play and sprung Darren Sproles to the game-winning score on a 22-yard burst 7:20 minutes into overtime, capping an impressive upset playoff win over the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.
For the 2008 season, Hester finished with a total of 95 rushing yards on only 19 carries. He also gained 91 yards on 12 receptions.
In 2009 Hester had a blocked punt return for a TD against the Chiefs and a fumble recovery TD on a punt against the Pittsburgh Steelers.