Throwback: Devin Hester's touchdown kickoff return on his first college football play

Image credit: gatorcountry.com

Recently named as one of college football's 25 most dynamic players in the last 25 years by Brad Crawford in an article by cbssports.com, Devin Hester is rightly regarded as one of the game's greatest kickoff returners.

The eery silence of a college football close season leaves me delving into the history books. It's a great opportunity to look up great players, game-changing moments and wonderful traditions, continuing the "Throwback" series, that can fill the void until the lead up to an exciting new season of college football.

Best known for his NFL career with the Chicago Bears, for whom he scored an extraordinary six touchdowns in his first season, including a 108-yard score from a missed field goal, Hester was a standout college football player at the University of Miami.

Hester was blessed with lightning speed, running a wind-assisted 10.42 100 metres in college for the Miami Hurricanes' university track team. His explosive running style and ability to accelerate away from defenders earned him a reputation as one of the deadliest returners in the country. In September 2003, Hester's first game for the University of Miami, Hurricanes fans saw just what a talent they had.

Devin Hester scores a 97-yard touchdown kickoff return in his first college football game

In the heat of the Orange Bowl, in Florida Hate Week against Miami's bitter rival Florida Gators, freshman Hester fielded the game's opening kick-off on the Hurricanes' 3-yard line. Streaking through the Florida defense with the aid of four blocks around the Miami 40-yard line, Hester hit open field, shimmied past two defenders and accelerated into the end zone. Some introduction to his college football career.

Hester went on to have a remarkable college career, engaged primarily as a kick return specialist, although he was a skilled defensive back. Nicknamed "Anytime" in tribute to his friend Deion "Prime Time" Sanders, Hester scored six touchdowns from kick returns, a further two on offense and recorded five interceptions in his time with Miami. He is one of the rare few college football players to line up on offense, defense and special teams.

Hester repeated his innate ability to produce big plays in special moments when he returned the opening kick of Super Bowl XLI 92 yards for a touchdown, to give the Chicago Bears the earliest lead ever recorded in a Super Bowl, against the Indianapolis Colts in 2006.

Few players have made such an immediate impact in their college football careers. Devin Hester's greatness as a kickoff returner was cemented in February 2024, when he became the first return specialist to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.