Today, he becomes the first primary return specialist to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His list of NFL accolades is as long as a roll of wallpaper, and he’s widely regarded as the best returner to ever do it. Yet, Devin Hester’s college career at Miami opened the eyes of the world to his explosive and unique skill set long before earning PFHOF honors.
Devin Hester’s College Career: The Most Dangerous Special Teams Player in History?
Most career return touchdowns. Most career punt return touchdowns. Most return touchdowns in a season. Despite recent changes to the kickoff rule, there likely won’t be another primary return player in NFL history quite like Hester. He was unstoppable, a blurred vision in Chicago blue who tormented return units from the minute he set foot on the NFL field.
Yes, Hester was unequivocally the most dangerous special teams player in NFL history. However, he was much more than that. For at the University of Miami, he was the most dangerous special teams player in college football, but he was also a dominant cornerback who also put his unique brand of athletic talents to use on the offensive side of the ball.
It’s easy to remember the kick returns, the punt returns, the kickoff returns, the missed field goal returns, that almost unbelievable turn of speed, the agility, the slipperiness, that became the expectation every time a ball sailed anywhere near his eagerly awaiting arms.
But, how many people also remember that during his three playing seasons with the Hurricanes, Hester also snagged five interceptions while patrolling the Miami secondary? How many people remember that the playmaker who instantly made a name for himself as a true freshman in the Big East also averaged 6.7 yards per carry as a rusher, and even tallied 196 receiving yards?
As unique as his talents for returning the football deep into enemy territory, and often into the opposition end zone were, Hester’s overall college football resume was equally unique. In fact, he became the first Miami player in the modern era to take snaps in all three phases of the game: offense, defense, and special teams.
Despite his three-way wonder, Hester truly put the special into special teams at Miami, with 638 punt return yards, four punt return touchdowns, 1,019 kick return yards, and two kick return scores. From his 98-yard touchdown return against in-state rival Florida to the final punt return score of his career against Temple, Hurricane Hester simply blew everyone away.
His selection by the Chicago Bears in the 2006 NFL Draft was met with consternation, especially given he was selected to play cornerback. Bears fans wanted an explosive game-changer. Well, ultimately, they got one, just not in quite the shape or form they were expecting.
He heads into the Pro Football Hall of Fame holding many records that may never be broken. No other player in NFL history has returned the Super Bowl kickoff for a touchdown, and he is one of only five players to record a “kick-six” in an NFL game. His six combined kick returns in a single season will likely never be beaten.
His impact on special teams at the NFL level will never be replicated, but Hester’s college career with the Hurricanes paved the way for the dominance that followed, and ultimately led him to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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