Devin Hester

CAREER: Perhaps the team’s most explosive all-purpose player…won the starting job in 2003 as one of Miami’s kickoff returnmen and earned valuable playing time at wide receiver during hisfreshman season…one of the Hurricanes’ fastest players, heshowed off his speed and skills with a 97-yard kickoff return for atouchdown against Florida to open the game…captured the 2004Big EAST Indoor long jump title as a member of the track and fieldteam…undeclared major.

2004 (SOPHOMORE): Had breakout season and turned into one of the mostdangerous players in college football…Named to the Walter Camp All-Americateam as the nation’s best kick returner, selected as the kickoff returner on TheSporting News All-America team, and selected first-team All-ACC as a kickreturner…Even though opposing teams consistently kicked away from him thesecond half of the season, ranked fifth nationally with 17.6-yard average onpunt returns and ninth in the NCAA with 26.6-yard average on kickoffreturns…Scored four touchdowns on returns (three punts, one kickoff), thesecond most in the country…His four punt returns for a touchdown tiedSantana Moss’ single-season UM record…Ranked second in the ACC in bothpunt returns and kickoff returns…Played in 12 games, with one start at fullback,one at tailback, two at nickelback and one at cornerback…On defense,led the team with four interceptions, adding 12 tackles, one QB pressure andtwo pass breakups…In the season opener vs. FSU, played on special teams,making 1 solo tackle and returning 1 kickoff for 21 yards. Blocked XavierBeitia’s 44-yard field goal with 3:58 remaining to give UM a chance to win inovertime…In Game 2 vs. Louisiana Tech, returned 2 punts for touchdowns, 51and 92 yards (the latter tying Roscoe Parrish’s school record). Marked the firsttime a UM player had 2 punt returns for a touchdown in a game, and his 143total yards ranked second in a game. Added 1 tackle on special teams. NamedACC Special Teams Player of the Week…Returned 2 punts for 47 yards (34long) and 1 kickoff for 13 yards at Houston. Made 1 tackle on specialteams…Returned 2 punts for 12 yards and 1 kickoff for 27 yards at GeorgiaTech. Also played as the dime back on defense for the first time, making 2tackles and getting the first interception of his career…Had a sensational nighton national television against Louisville, returning 3 punts for 89 yards and atouchdown and 4 kickoffs for 95 yards. His 78-yard punt return in the fourthquarter gave UM a 34-31 lead. On defense, made 1 tackle and 1 QB pressureas the nickelback. Named ACC Special Teams Player of the Week for the secondtime…Broke into the lineup on offense for the first time all season at NCState, starting at fullback, but did not touch the ball. On special teams, scoredhis fourth touchdown on a kick return, taking the opening kickoff back 100yards for a score. Moved into a tie for first place on UM’s all-time list with twokickoff return touchdowns (with Ottis Anderson and Tim Morgan). For thegame, had 2 kickoffs for 129 yards and 2 punts returns for minus-3 yards.Added 1 tackle. Named ACC Special Teams Player of the Week again…Sawconsiderable action on offense at North Carolina, rushing 3 times for 18 yards,with an 11-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to tie the game 28-28. Also caught1 pass for 25 yards. Did not return any kicks, as the Tar Heels kicked awayfrom him all game. Added a season-high 3 tackle…Remained a three-waythreat vs. Clemson, starting at both tailback and nickelback. On offense,rushed 2 times for 12 yards. On defense, made his second interception of theseason and 1 pass breakup…Started at right cornerback at Virginia in place ofan injured Antrel Rolle and made 2 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and got his thirdinterception of the season. Saw limited action on offense, but returned 1 puntfor 13 yards and 1 kickoff for 7 yards…Started at nickelback vs. Wake Forestand made 2 tackles and 1 pass breakup, but did not play on offense. Returned2 punts for 7 yards…Played as the nickelback all game vs. Virginia Tech,recording 2 tackles. On special teams, returned 2 punts for 1 yards and 3 kickoffsfor 78 yards…In the Peach Bowl vs. Florida, started at DB in a nickeldefense, making 1 assisted tackle, 1 interception (28 yards) and 1 passbreakup. Also returned 1 punt for 9 yards and 1 kickoff for 16 yards. Returneda blocked field goal 78 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.

2003 (FRESHMAN): Ranked sixth nationally in kickoff returnaverage at 28.7 yards per return…made four catches for 116 yards(29.0 avg.)…led the team in kickoff return yards with 18 returnsfor 517 yards and one touchdown…kicked off his Miami career witha bang returning two kickoffs for 73 yards, including a long of 54yards, at Louisiana Tech…caught two Derrick Crudup passes for 68yards, including a 58-yard connection against LouisianaTech…returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdownagainst Florida, the fifth-longest kickoff return in Miamihistory…injured his ankle on a 28-yard kickoff return later in theFlorida game, causing him to miss the next three games…returnedto action against Florida State, returning two kicks for 37yards…made two catches for 48 yards in Miami’s blowout win overTemple…had a 32-yard kickoff return against VirginiaTech…returned a kickoff 39 yards against Tennessee…returnedthree kickoffs for 63 yards in the FedEx Orange Bowl Classic againstFlorida State.

HIGH SCHOOL: Suncoast…orginally signed with Miami in2002…widely regarded as one of the nation’s finest two-way play-ers…considered by most observers to be one of the best all-aroundprospects in the nation, regardless of position…one of the mostversatile recruits in the nation, he played extensively at runningback, receiver, defensive back and as a return man…a Parade All-American…a USA Today First-Team All-American…rated the no. 1prospect in Florida, regardless of position, by SuperPrep…rated theno. 6 prospect in the nation, regardless of position, bySuperPrep…a member of SuperPrep’s National Elite 50…ASuperPrep All-American…ranked the no. 2 defensive back in thenation by SuperPrep…member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’sSuper Southern 100…rated the nation’s no. 1 cornerback on MaxEmfinger’s National Top 125…no. 28 prospect in the nation,regardless of position, on the Dallas Morning News National Top100… rated the no. 1 defensive back and no. 3 overall player inFlorida by TheInsiders.com…rated the no. 1 defensive back and no.3 overall player in Florida by Student Sports…ranked the no. 1defensive back and no. 1 overall player in Florida by FloridaKids…rated the no. 8 prospect in the nation by the MiamiHerald…rated the no. 2 prospect in Florida by the Miami Herald…aGridiron Greats Preseason Top 100 selection…earned First-TeamClass 3A All-State honors as a senior…a member of SunshineNetwork’s All-Gridiron Team…rushed for 1,014 yards and 12 touch-downson 94 carries (17 touchdowns) while compiling 1,028 yardsreceiving on 38 catches for 9 touchdowns, in addition to throwingfor 5 touchdowns and 225 yards as a senior…made 156 tackles(75 solos), had 3 quarterback sacks, caused 3 fumbles and recov-ereda fumble as a senior on defense… timed at 4.33 in the 40-yarddash…possesses a 38-inch vertical leap…was named the MVP ofthe CaliFlorida All-Star game in which he returned a kickoff 85 yardsfor a touchdown and had an interception and three tackles ondefense…also a track and field standout who earned prep All-Americahonors and ranked second nationally in the long jump dur-inghis junior year…chose Miami over Florida State, Purdue, NorthCarolina State and Georgia…coached in football by Jimmy Bell.

HESTER’S CAREER STATISTICS

Defense

Offense

Special Teams