More sports

No object too big for LSU star

Jacob Hester, the Tigers' top rusher, has a bruising style and deceptive speed.

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published January 5, 2008

NEW ORLEANS - LSU running back Jacob Hester saw the opening and that meant just one thing.

"You've got to hit it no matter who's in there," he said.

Even if it's a spring practice. Even if the person in his way is his offensive tackle, Ciron Black, all 6 feet 4, 318 pounds of him; a player working to help Hester out.

"I'm running to get a linebacker and he plowed right over me; he hit me right in the ribs and I went down," Black said, grimacing and reaching for his side as if eight months later he can still feel the collision. "I got a little taste of it."

"I would not want to tackle the guy," center Brett Helms added.

Folks around the SEC say the same things as does top-ranked Ohio State 11-1, which meets the No.2-ranked Tigers (11-2) in Monday night's Bowl Championship Series title game.

The 6-foot, 228-pound senior displays a relentless, hard-nosed style that recalls an era when players wore leather helmets and played as blood trickled down their faces.

"He's what I would call a throwback player," Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said. "He's a football player and he plays with great heart and great desire. He's a physical, physical football player."

"Hester would fit well in the Big Ten as far as a downhill running back who'll run you over before he runs out of bounds," echoed Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said. "I've seen guys on film try to take him low and just get smashed."

Hester leads the Tigers in rushing yards (1,017), all-purpose yards (1,123) and touchdowns (12) this season.

He has played this way since he first put on shoulder pads and a helmet and joined brother Adam's team with kids more than two years his senior.

He was 4 at the time.

"I just had so much to prove being the younger brother and I wanted to be tough," Hester said.

He's now 22 and still plays as if he has to show he can do the job. But then some fans didn't think he should have been atop the depth chart in 2006. Or in 2007.

"It wasn't what they wanted to hear," he said Friday without sounding angry or bitter. "People didn't think I could be the starting running back at LSU and I always want to prove that I can do whatever I set my mind to. Every game I feel like I'm trying to prove that I belong there."

Hester did it all at Shreveport (La.) Evangel Christian Academy, playing defensive end as a freshman, nose guard as sophomore, running back as a junior and receiver as a senior. He was considered one of the best athletes there. Not so in Baton Rouge.

"For some reason, I kind of got stereotyped as a slow guy," Hester said, "but as long as I'm on the field and helping my team, it doesn't bother me."

As his role has expanded, first last season under offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who's now at Florida State, you've heard less about his 40 times (4.49 was his best in high school) and more what he has done with his time. Hester loves Elvis, Dean Martin and Miles Davis (no teammates borrow his iPod, and they teased him Friday when he couldn't find the Elvis station on Sirius for the ride to the news conference) and John Wayne movies (he's named for the character in Big Jake. He has been at his best in the biggest games.

He rushed for 106 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown late in a 28-24 win against Florida in October. He had 120 yards in the 21-14 SEC title game win against Tennessee.

"He's unbelievable," Florida linebacker Dustin Doe said. "A lot of people probably underestimate him because he doesn't look that big, but he's strong and he's tough to bring down."

"I've had more athletic backs. I've had bigger backs. I've had faster backs, but what Hester is, is he's a complete back," LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton said. "He is athletic. He is big and he is fast. In combination, all the things he does has made him a very special guy."

Get in his way and find out.

Times staff writer Antonya English contributed to this report. Brian Landman can be reached at landman@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3347.

FAST FACTS

Ohio State vs. LSU

8 p.m. Monday, Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans

TV: Ch.13

[Last modified January 4, 2008, 23:19:15]