Players

  The Chargers opened Day 2 of the 2008 NFL Draft with a splash, trading up to the third round to acquire running back Jacob Hester from LSU. The Chargers swapped picks with the New England Patriots, sending a fifth-round choice in the ’08 draft and the Bolts’ second-round pick in 2009 to pick up the former Tiger.

  Hester became a key addition to the offense as the Chargers made a late run to the postseason. He saw action at both running back and fullback, while excelling on special teams. He also played both positions as well as special teams at LSU, where he helped lead the Tigers to the 2007 BCS National Championship in his final collegiate game. Hester finished his rookie NFL season fourth on the team with 14 special teams tackles and just to show that he wasn’t fazed by the NFL stage, scored his first touchdown in an NBC Sunday Night Football game against the Indianapolis Colts.

  One of the things that appealed most to the Chargers in the selection of Hester was that he had a reputation as a sure-handed ball-carrier, fumbling just once during his collegiate career while rushing for 1,780 yards on 364 carries and averaging nearly five yards per carry in the very tough Southeastern Conference.

  A fan-favorite in Baton Rouge because of his “do it all” attitude, Hester had one of the biggest games of his career as a senior against rival Florida. In front of the largest-ever crowd at Tiger Stadium, which approached 93,000, Hester scored on a two-yard run on a fourth-and-goal play with just over a minute remaining in the game to help the top-ranked Tigers erase a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and top the ninth-ranked Gators, 28-24. Hester finished the night with 106 yards rushing, his first-career 100-yard game, and he converted two fourth-downs, including the game-winning score, on the Tigers’ final drive. That performance against Florida earned him College Football Player of the Week honors from the Sporting News and Player of the Week honors from the SEC.

  Mature beyond his years, Hester married the former Katie Tilley on July 28, 2007, proposing to her outside War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas, moments after LSU beat the Razorbacks, 31-26, in 2006. Hester kept his nerves that day by sticking to his traditional pregame ritual of listening to his Elvis Presley CD. Katie is the niece of former St. Louis Cardinals standout wide receiver Pat Tilley and Hester is a distant cousin of Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw. The Hesters are expecting their first child in September ’09.

   Even as a rookie, Hester assumed an active role in team community relations. Last December, he participated in an event with the Bikes for Kids Foundation to hand out new and refurbished bicycles to underprivileged children in and around the holiday season.

  TRANSACTION HISTORY: Drafted by Chargers in third round (69th overall), April 27, 2008...signed four-year contract, July 21, 2008.

  2009: One reception for 4 yards in week 1 vs. Oakland. Scored on a 41-yard fumble return touchdown after stripping the ball from Steelers' punt return man. The touchdown helped rally the Chargers back from a 28 point deficit. Continued his special teams outstanding play by blocking a Chiefs' Dustin Colquitt punts and recovering it in the end zone for a touchdown. Made a key tackle that saved a touchdown on a Giants' Terrell Thomas interception return. Inactive in week 17 vs. the Redskins due to a shoulder injury.

  2008:Scored first-career NFL TD in 4Q of NBC SNF game vs. Indianapolis Nov. 23…took direct snap on fake punt and ran season-long 28 yards for first down in Atlanta game Nov. 30…first-career start Dec. 4 vs. Oakland...key blocks to pave way for 167 yards rushing in Jan. 3 AFC Wild Card Playoffs vs. Indy… four-yard TFL on fake punt in Jan. 11 AFC Divisional Playoff game at Pittsburgh. 

  COLLEGE: Second-team All-SEC as senior…Sporting News and SEC POW after Florida game Oct. 6, 2007… played at LSU from 2004-07…sports studies major.

  PERSONAL: Born in Shreveport, Louisiana… Louisiana Class 5A Offensive MVP as junior fullback at Evangel Christian High School in Shreveport…helped lead team to back-to-back state titles in 2002-03…scored 26 touchdowns each during junior and senior seasons.