Miami Hurricanes legend Devin Hester has been named one of college football’s most dynamic players of the past 25 years, per a list created by CBS Sports Brad Crawford. Hester starred at Miami from 2003 to 2005 before launching a Pro Football Hall of Fame career.
The list highlights athletes whose explosive playmaking and multi-faceted skills redefined program success. Crawford did make some rules for the list. No current player, and no player who began their career before 2000, was included. Here is how Crawford viewed the term, 'dynamic':
"Judging by a few responses from colleagues, definitions of "dynamic" differ a bit from my own. As a kid from the South, the players I most remembered jumped off of the screen in the biggest moments of the biggest games. Some of these athletes dominated the opposition with elite athleticism, while others utilized world-class talent or speed on their way to piling up touchdowns."Brad Crawford
Crawford also acknowledges the list is offense-heavy but also included a couple defensive standouts who he felt could not be ignored.
During his Hurricanes career, Hester became the first player at Miami in recent history to gather snaps on offense, defense and special teams. His versatility carried into the pros, where he became the NFL’s greatest return specialist and a three-time All-Pro. In 2007, Hester ended his playing days as the NFL’s all-time leader in combined return touchdowns.
At Miami, Hester earned first-team All-ACC honors twice (2004, 2005) and was a consensus All-American in 2004. He amassed over 3,300 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, while his game-changing speed and field vision on special teams drew national attention.
"How many players in college football history can say some of their most daring special teams returns began by running backward? Hester was a human highlight with the Hurricanes and ran on a different octane. He scored eight times over his three-year career, four coming via punt returns, one on kickoff, one off a fumble and another on a reverse. Hester's cutting ability and vision led to a Hall of Fame NFL career as one of the greatest special teamers the game has ever seen."Brad Crawford
Hester has been enshrined in the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame, and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Teams for both the 2000s and 2010s.
Some notes about the list: USC RB Reggie Bush came in at No. 1 with Cam Newton, Johnny Manziel, Lamar Jackson and Vince Young following, in that order. Percy Harvin of Florida was the only other player listed as ATH on the list, along with Hester. Travis Hunter was included on the list and he is the most recent player.