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May 2008
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The Chargers began their three-day mini-camp this morning, and rookie running back Jacob Hester found himself being steered to the correct spot by LaDainian Tomlinson during a couple of drills. "It was fast, fast-paced," said Hester, the team's third-round draft choice from LSU. "You don't have a lot of chance to grasp it and learn it. You've got to learn on the run. Luckily, the verterans kind of helped me out there. "It's different. Everybody always says it's a step up in tempo and speed, and they're right. Even playing in the best league in college didn't compare to this, because this is the best of the best. It's definitely a high tempo and something you've got to get used to." LT is impressed already. "I watched him a bunch in college, so I'm pretty familiar with what he's able to do on the football field," Tomlinson said. "It seems like he's a guy who really wants to learn what's going on, and I think he's going to help us in a lot of different ways." Here's a look at what the Chargers got when A.J. Smith traded up to grab Hester: Smith traded his fifth-round choice this year and a second-rounder in 2009 to New England in order to grab Hester with the 69th pick of the draft. Hester is 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds and played both tailback and fullback at LSU, gaining 1,103 yards and scoring 12 rushing touchdowns as a senior for the national champions and adding 14 catches for 106 yards and a score through the air. He also had one fumble in his college career. He's primarily envisioned as the replacement for Michael Turner, who left his role as Tomlinson's backup to sign as a free agent for Atlanta. But he also could fill the shoes vacated by Lorenzo Neal, who blocked for Tomlinson the last five seasons but was released in February. "I've played it all in college, everywhere in the backfield," Hester said. "I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me. Whatever position it is, I really just want to be in there. I'm not a guy who's unhappy if he's not getting carries. "In years past it's been a little bit different, the full back more of a blocking back, a guy that didn't get involved in the passing game. So hopefully I can get involved in the passing game and (still) do some of the same things he (Neal) did, because he's one of the best in the game." Hester had plenty of opportunities to study the Chargers last year. "I watched them a lot, because Buster (former LSU receiver Craig Davis) was on the team," he said. "Any time we were in the locker room on Sundays, we'd turn it on and watch Buster. So I really got to watch them a lot last year."
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