Last season was tough for Aaron Hester.
A talented and supremely athletic cornerback accustomed to playing a significant role while at Dominguez High School in Compton, Hester was asked to redshirt in 2008. At first, he was skeptical about the coaches’ decision.
“When they first told me, the first week, I was kind of iffy about it,” Hester said. “I was like, “˜Man, I want to play.'”
Yet, given a chance to reflect and a moment to gain a sense of perspective, Hester believes the decision was the best and that he has grown from the experience.
“Overall, I’m glad I redshirted,” Hester said. “Because I know last year I would have gotten ready during the season, but I wasn’t ready. I’m not going in ready like I am now.”
Halfway through spring practice, Hester is one of many young Bruin players who have stood out and distinguished themselves. Hester, a relative of Chicago Bears return man Devin Hester, has spent the majority of his time with the first-team defense, playing the cornerback position vacated by the departure of Michael Norris.
And thus far, both Bruin players and coaches have been supremely impressed with the job Hester has done.
“You could see a lot (out of Hester),” said senior cornerback Alterraun Verner, who has been friends with Hester since childhood. “(He’s) getting better every day, picking up a little nuances, getting used to the defense. … He’s quick to ask questions, and he usually don’t make the same mistakes twice.”
One reason why there is a lot of excitement about Hester is simply because of how athletic he is. At 6 feet 1 inch and 200 pounds, Hester provides a much more intimidating physical presence than the 5-foot-10-inch Norris imposed last year.
There’s also the speed Hester has, speed that made him a two-sport athlete in high school ““ he was also track and field star.
Former Bruin player and current defensive backs coach Carnell Lake likes what he sees from Hester thus far.
“He’s a big physical presence,” Lake said. “He can compete with the tall receivers that we have on our team. He’s getting turnovers, and he’s making plays, and he’s learning. He’s young, he’s making mistakes, but we’re making sure he’s progressing along because we’re going to need him.”
Making plays in practice is something Hester points to as a sign of the improvements he has made since spring practice began.
“I’m starting to make a lot more plays than I was in the first week,” Hester said. “The first two days I was cool, I was there, but now I’m starting to actually make interceptions, get breakups, stuff like that.”
And when that interception or deflected pass comes, Hester’s incredible intensity is revealed. Many times during practice, Hester makes a play and immediately after lets out a cry of “Let’s go.” This demonstration is usually followed by some jawing between players and Hester making sure the receiver knows how he feels.
Hester said that sense of intensity has always been a part of his game.
“I love the game of football so much to where that’s how I show it,” Hester said. “I say stuff to get the team going because myself is going so I try to get my teammates going too.”
Verner does not mind the intensity Hester shows, as long as it does not hinder the team.
“That’s something that people need sometimes,” Verner said. “That fuels other people. It gets people excited, juiced, that type of player. It’s something that people feed off of. As long as it’s controlled and productive to the team, it’s cool.”
While there is a lot to be excited about with Hester, there have been a few learning curves he has had to overcome.
Coach Rick Neuheisel said one thing Hester has continued to do and needs to overcome is a tendency to grab and hold the receiver if he gets beat.
Lake said that improvement will come with confidence.
“As a young player, sometimes you feel that you’re not in position,” Lake said. “You can’t run, but then its just confidence. Knowing that you can get there, knowing that you can run with receivers, and then you won’t have a tendency to grab a lot.”
Finally given his opportunity to show what he is capable of on the football field, Hester has entered spring practice with a focused mentality.
“It’s my turn,” Hester said. “It’s my turn to go out and just to prove myself, prove that I’m worthy of starting. It’s just a process, and I’m trying to stay consistent with what I’m doing.”