Devin Hester

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Full Name: Devin Hester Primary Position: DB Height/Weight: 5' 11"/186 College: University of Miami Birthdate: November 4, 1982 High School: - Birthplace: Riviera Beach, Florida Pro Experience: 2 years

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[edit] Biography

Devin Hester (born November 4, 1982 in Riviera Beach, Florida) is acornerback and return specialist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He currently holds the all-time NFL record for the most return touchdowns in a single season.

Hester attended Suncoast High School in Riviera Beach, Florida. During his high school career, Hester played football as a cornerback, wide receiver, and running back. Hester was also a precious return specialist, earning honors from SuperPrep.com as the nation’s sixth best high school prospect in Florida, and being named as a Parade Magazine All-American

Hester also participated in the in 2002 CaliFlorida Bowl, where he returned a kick for an 80-yard touchdown.

[edit] College career

After completing high school, Hester enrolled into the University of Miami. As a sophomore, Hester earned national recognition after being named onto the "Walter Camp All-America Team" and “The Sporting News' All-America team”. Hester’s recognition was influenced by his prodigious success as a Punt and Kick returner. Hester’s ability to thrust laterally and breakaway from pursuers made him one of the nation’s most dangerous return specialists.

During his freshman year against the University of Florida, Hester returned the game's opening kick for a 97-yard touchdown. In a game against Duke University in 2005, Hester broke six tackles while returning an 81-yard punt. Ultimately, Hester completed his college career with a total of six touchdowns from kick returns, including one blocked field goal return. He also scored one rushing and receiving touchdown. Also, Hester became the first football player in Miami Hurricanes' history to play as member of the special, offensive, and defensives teams.

[edit] Professional career

The Chicago Bears drafted Hester in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Although he was drafted as a cornerback, the Bears use him as a return specialist to fill the void left by former Bears return specialists Jerry Azumah and Bobby Wade. Hester made an impact during his first professional game. While leading the Green Bay Packers 19-0, Hester returned an 84-yard punt for a touchdown. After the game, he received a call from his idol, Deion Sanders, who complimented Hester on his performance. Also, the WBBM-AM Chicago Bears radio announcers Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer nicknamed Hester "The Windy City Flyer" after Hester scored the touchdown.

During a week four match up against the Seattle Seahawks, John Madden called Hester a gambler, and criticized him for the unnecessary risks he takes when returning “dangerous” punts. On top of that, Madden claimed he would not trust Hester in close game situations if he were the Bears’ head coach.

Two weeks later, while trailing the professional resume writer Arizona Cardinals by six points with less than two minutes remaining, Hester returned a punt 83 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

A week after the team's poor performance against the Miami Dolphins, Hester rebounded with a record-tying performance while playing the New York Giants. Trailing 24-20 early in the fourth quarter, the Giants brought out kicker Jay Feely to attempt a 52-yard field goal. The attempt fell short and was caught by Hester. Hester intentionally hesitated to trick his pursuers into thinking he was going to down the ball for a touchback, and then scrambled out of the end zone. After picking up a convoy of blockers from his fellow teammates, Hester returned the kick for a 108-yard touchdown. Hester's play tied teammate Nathan Vasher’s NFL record, which was set during a similar situation in 2005, almost exactly a year (364 days) earlier.

Hester also returned a punt for a 45-yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. Hester's return tied the record for the most punt return touchdowns scored during a rookie year. Hester's accomplishment earned recognition as the NFC's special teams player of the week award.

Hester was awarded the kickoff returner spot on the depth chart the week of the Monday Night Football game against the St. Louis Rams on December 11, 2006, and returned a kick 94 yards for a touchdown in just his second return of the night, tying the NFL single season record for returns for a touchdown at five, set by Ken Houston in 1971. Later in the game, Hester returned another kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, breaking the NFL record. This second touchdown return also made Hester the sixth man in NFL history to score a touchdown on two separate kickoff returns in the same game. Hester had now returned three punts, two kickoffs, and one missed field goal attempt for touchdowns in the 2006 season.

[edit] Touchdown Returns (Career)

[edit] 2006: (6)

• Week 1 @ Packers: (Win, 26-0)
  • 84 yard punt return

• Week 6 @ Cardinals: (Win, 24-23)
  • 83 yard punt return (game-winner)

• Week 10 @ Giants: (Win, 38-20)
  • 108 yard missed field goal return

• Week 13 vs. Vikings: (Win, 23-13)
  • 45 yard punt return

• Week 14 @ Rams: (Win, 42-27)
  • 94 yard kick return, 96 yard kick return

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