Colonel_Reb
Hall of Famer
Interesting interview of Jacob Hester by one of his biggest little fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpkOhmWBClo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpkOhmWBClo
Gi-15 said:Jacob really seems obsessed with this "waterboy" role...
backrow said:a snippet from draftdaddy:
"Former New York Giants safety Mike Mayock, who we think is currently the best TV draft analyst, throws some praise at L.S.U. tailback Jacob Hester."
full article:
LSU's Hester eyes next level
Tigers star battles perception.
April 21, 2008
By Scott Ferrell
sferrell@gannett.com
When NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock sees LSU's Jacob Hester, he sees a player who could play for 10 years in the NFL.
So why does The Sporting News' mock draft have Hester going to the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of this weekend's NFL draft?
The answer has a lot to do with position and perception.
NFL teams have pegged Hester (5-10, 230) as a fullback. Because fullback is not a premium position he will likely be drafted on Sunday and not Saturday.
For example, The Sporting News' highest-rated fullback, Arkansas' Peyton Hillis, is only expected to be a fifth-round selection.
Then there is the perception.
Despite a 1,000-yard rushing season for a national championship LSU team as a senior, there is an impression among scouts and media that he's limited athletically. His best 40 time at the Combine was 4.59, while the top 10 running back times in Indianpolis were all below 4.50.
Because those numbers don't match up to the elite running backs, Hester's physical tools to play running back in the NFL have been questioned by some.
Not Mayock. He isn't fazed by the numbers.
"I don't care how high he jumps," Mayock told USA Today. "He's a football player. Somebody will take him in the third or fourth round, and he'll play, if he stays healthy, for the next eight or 10 years."
Mayock isn't alone in his opinion of Hester.
At the Senior Bowl, San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Nolan was also impressed with what he saw from Hester in the week of practices and game in Mobile, Ala.
"He was a key player on the national championship team," Nolan said at the Senior Bowl. "I would be shocked if he's not a damn good NFL player for that reason alone. I don't care what they say. I'll be shocked if he's not a damn good football player."
History says Nolan will be right.
Hester played on two state championship teams in high school and a national championship team in college. He had only one fumble in 364 carries in college and he accounted for 27 touchdowns (rushing and receiving) at LSU.
For his part Hester has participated in the Senior Bowl, the Combine and LSU's Pro Day. He also trained in Arizona in an effort to perform well for the NFL scouts.
This weekend, he'll learn his NFL fate.
"I've done a lot to prepare for the draft and I feel like I'm ready to go," said Hester, who played high school football at Evangel. "I've talked to almost all 32 teams. You can't really get a feel for where you're going to go. Everybody tells me that it is the team that talks to you the least that's going to draft you. We'll find out."
All he needs is one team to side with Mayock and Nolan.
His NFL future may begin with play on special teams and at fullback. Few who have watched him play would count him out from contributing at running back as well.
"Every team I've talked to has said the exact same thing. I could play fullback or I could be a running back on third down situations and different things and on (the) goal line," Hester said. "Everybody seems to think I could play both like I did in college. That's what I like. I'd play water boy if they want me to.'
©The Shreveport Times
April 21, 2008