USF's Hester: Out Of Dad's Shadow

TAMPA - It was something that Lena Hester had been through countless times in the past. Waiting outside the locker room to celebrate a big game and a big win for Jessie Hester.

Only this time the setting was in Auburn, Ala., after a college game and not an NFL one. And the star receiver was her son Jessie Jr., not Jessie Hester Sr.

'Jessie picked me up and swung me around and said, 'I had a good game,'' Lena said. 'I told him, 'No, you had a great game.''

A University of South Florida sophomore, Hester's great game (a game-high six receptions for 64 yards, including the game-winning 14-yard touchdown pass in overtime) helped the Bulls to a 26-23 upset at No. 17 Auburn on Sept. 8.

'No doubt about it,' Jessie Sr. said, 'the roles definitely were reversed. That was extra special seeing the look on his face coming out of the locker room.'

Lena Hester said she sensed 'a different feel' after the Auburn game.

'My husband and I knew this is the year Jessie was trying to put his name out there instead of being the son of Jessie Hester Sr.,' Lena said.

Jessie, who came to USF in 2005, said he's used to being compared to his father, who played at Florida State before playing a decade in the NFL.

'It's been like that for a long time,' Jessie said. 'I'm used to it now. It's kind of hard to be recognized for the things you do. I'm proud of what my dad did and he's done some great things, but it gets old sometimes.

'If I do something it's 'son of former NFL receiver Jessie Hester.' It's been like since high school.'

Jessie said he uses his father's NFL experience to his advantage, frequently calling for his father's advice.

'He's helped me a lot,' Jessie said. 'When he was playing football, that's all I wanted to do.

'If I'm in practice and there's a certain coverage I can't figure out, I'll call him and he'll talk me through it. When I go home, he'll ask what I need help with and we'll go outside and go through it.'

Not surprisingly on the game-winning TD against Auburn, the elder Hester turned to his wife and predicted the touchdown pass.

'He told me, 'If everyone does what they're supposed to, Jessie will be open,'' Lena said.

As a senior at Belle Glade Glades Central, Hester was rated as one of The Tampa Tribune's top 50 state recruits, but wasn't recruited heavily by his father's alma mater.

'I think FSU took everything for granted and thought they could wait around,' Jessie Sr. said. 'Because of my loyalties, they thought maybe he would go there no matter what. But my wife and I stayed out of the recruiting process.'

So Hester chose USF over Miami. He played sparingly as a freshman, but was redshirted last season because he was hampered by several injuries - groin, hip flexors, cramping problems and a separated shoulder.

'He was in the dumps last year,' Jessie Sr. said.

This year Hester's No. 1 goal is to stay healthy.

'I've been battling injuries,' said the 6-foot, 174-pound Hester. 'My biggest problem is trying to stay healthy. If I can stay healthy, I can help the team out a lot.'

Junior receiver Taurus Johnson said he thought this would be Hester's breakout season.

'When's Jessie going to blow up?' Johnson said. 'We've been talking about it. I tell him we need to get the ball in your hands more because you can make plays.

'When he caught that touchdown at Auburn, I was like 'Thank God.' I'm so happy for him. I told him just be patient, your time will come and now he's following his own path.'

Jessie Sr. played 10 seasons in the NFL between 1985 and 1995 (he missed the 1989 season with an injury) and he's happy his son is getting his own recognition.

'I told Jessie I can't wait until it gets to that point,' his father said. 'I will gladly say that's my son. I'm glad to see that happen for him.'