He rushed for 868 yards and 22 touchdowns on 182 carries, leading his team to the 5A championship game his senior year.

During his junior year, he led his team to the state title, rushing for 1,593 yards and 24 touchdowns on 222 attempts in 2002.

[3] He did all of this while being a part of a five-man rotation with Keiland Williams, Trindon Holliday, Charles Scott, and Richard Murphy.

[2][4] Hester was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 3rd round, 69th overall, of the 2008 NFL draft[7][8] with the intention of being converted into a versatile, pass-catching Norv Turner style fullback.

In his preseason debut with the Chargers, Hester rushed for 49 yards over 13 carries, and scored two touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys.

[11] Hester scored his first regular-season touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts on November 23, on a one-yard pass from Philip Rivers.

Despite primarily being a halfback his entire college career, Hester displayed his improved blocking ability in the 2008 wild-card playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts, laying a block that effectively took two men out of the play and sprung Darren Sproles to the game-winning score on a 22-yard burst 7:20 minutes into overtime, capping an impressive upset playoff win over the Indianapolis Colts.

After injuries to the Chicago Bears backfield in September, Hester was brought in to workout with the team, but was not signed.

[13] On November 26, 2012, Hester was signed by the Denver Broncos after starting running back Willis McGahee was put on the IR with designation to return.