Aaron Hester: A UCLA Football Career Retrospective

Introduction

Aaron Sutton Hester, born on March 1, 1990, is an American former professional football cornerback who made his mark in college football playing for the UCLA Bruins. This article delves into Hester's career at UCLA, highlighting his statistics, key moments, and contributions to the team.

High School Career

Before his time at UCLA, Aaron Hester attended Dominguez High School in Compton, California, where he quickly gained recognition. Some scouts considered him among the best high school players.

UCLA Bruins Career Overview

Aaron Hester played four seasons for UCLA, leaving a noticeable impact on the Bruins' defense.

Key Statistics

During his UCLA career, Aaron Hester accumulated the following statistics:

Total Tackles: 97 solo tackles and 34 assists.
Interceptions: 5 interceptions.
Sacks: 6
TFL: 5
Games Played: 38

These numbers reflect his consistent presence and contribution to the Bruins' defensive efforts.

Read also: The Journey of Aaron Konnick

Memorable Moments

One of the most memorable moments of Hester's college career came on November 17, 2012, against crosstown rival USC. Hester intercepted a pass from USC quarterback Matt Barkley on the very first play from scrimmage. This interception was significant as it contributed to UCLA's first victory over USC since 2006, marking a turning point for the program and solidifying Hester's place in UCLA football lore.

Team Performance During Hester's Tenure

While Aaron Hester was a part of the UCLA Bruins, the team had fluctuating performances. To provide a broader context, let's look at some team statistics and rankings from a comparable season in college football. Please note that the statistics presented below are from a hypothetical season (2025) for illustrative purposes and may not directly reflect the actual seasons Hester played.

In this hypothetical season:

UCLA's PPG (Points Per Game) was 18.2, ranking 140th.
Their OPP PPG (Opponent Points Per Game) was 33.4, ranking 137th.
The team's Rush Yards per Game were 139.7, ranking 101st.
Pass Yards per Game were 180.3, ranking 142nd.

UCLA's conference standing in the Big Ten was 13th with a conference record of 3-6 and an overall record of 3-9.

Individual Leaders

During Hester's time, several players led the team in various statistical categories. Again, using a hypothetical season (2025) as an example:

Passing: Iamaleava led with 1,928 passing yards.
Rushing: Iamaleava also led in rushing with 505 yards.
Receiving: Gilmer led in receiving with 535 yards.

Professional Football Career

After his college career, Aaron Hester pursued a professional career in football.

NFL

Denver Broncos: Hester signed with the Denver Broncos as a college free agent but was later cut.
Detroit Lions: On April 21, 2014, Hester signed with the Detroit Lions as an unrestricted free agent, but his time with the team was short-lived.
San Diego Chargers: Hester also had a stint with the San Diego Chargers.
Kansas City Chiefs: Hester signed a reserve/futures contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

CFL

Edmonton Eskimos: Hester played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Edmonton Eskimos.

Personal Life

Aaron Hester is the cousin of Devin Hester, a well-known name in the NFL.

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