Former LSU running back Jacob Hester is on a new stage since he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers last April.From living in sunny California to starting at fullback for the AFC West champion Chargers, Hester and his wife, Katie, are loving the new experiences.”We live downtown overlooking the bay, and it’s beautiful,” Katie Hester said. “I still catch myself thinking, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I live here.’ Most people get drafted, and no offense, but they go somewhere cold or rainy, somewhere with not really nice weather. We really lucked out coming out here.”Jacob Hester said he quickly warmed up to the city of San Diego and the Chargers’ loyal fan base.”The most enjoyable thing about California is the city I’m playing in. It’s probably one of the best cities in the country,” he said. “Every day I get to experience great weather and great people and great fans. Every game we had this year was a sellout.”But when Jacob Hester arrived in San Diego, he wasn’t a household name like he was throughout his career at LSU. The Hesters said being back in a rookie role was a challenge.”It’s been really fun, kind of rough at the beginning of the year just because you’re a freshman again, having to start over instead of just coming where he’s already established,” Katie Hester said. “He’s having to come in and get his name in there again and fight for his spot.”Jacob Hester said he was “low on the totem pole” in his first season, but he and Chargers coach Norv Turner have developed a solid relationship.”You get some tough love, but a coach just wants to bring out the best in you,” he said.Jacob Hester said days as an NFL player are much different from college.”You don’t have class or anything to break things up,” he said. “You have football from 7 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon, so you don’t really have time for anything else but football.”The Shreveport native got his chance to break into the lineup Nov. 23 when starting fullback Mike Tolbert left the Chargers’ game against the Indianapolis Colts with a shoulder injury.Hester scored his first NFL touchdown that night on a 1-yard pass from quarterback Philip Rivers.”That was the best feeling I think I’ve ever had,” he said.San Diego lost that game, 23-20, and fell to 4-7, putting the Chargers close to being eliminated from playoff contention. Katie Hester said she was fully prepared to go back to Baton Rouge, where she and Jacob just bought a house, after the end of    the regular season.But the Chargers defied expectations and defeated the Denver Broncos in the season finale to win the AFC West title with an 8-8 record. They were the first team to capture a division crown with a non-winning record since the Cleveland Browns in 1985.  ”When we were 7-8, Denver was one game ahead of us,” Jacob Hester said. “When we were coming back on the plane and found out they lost and that if we beat them we would win the championship, it was a new season.”Katie Hester said the anticipation was taxing for her.”We are a team that waits until the very last minute to do things,” she said. “So I have been so stressed and feel like a heart attack is coming on sometime soon just because we can’t ever do anything early.”San Diego’s playoff run began with a 23-17 overtime upset of the Colts on Jan. 3.”Indy was the trendy pick to go all the way in the AFC, and everybody said we didn’t have much of a chance against them,” Jacob Hester said.The Chargers’ 35-24 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday ended their season, but Jacob said the team recognized how impressive its resurgence was.”It’s tough losing being two games away from the Super Bowl,” he said. “We realized what kind of season we had, being 4-8 and coming back to win the division and a playoff game. It’s never been done in NFL history, so we knew we did something special that will push us more for next year.”Jacob Hester finished his rookie year with 19 rushes for 95 yards, 15 receptions for 110 yards and two total touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams with three kickoff returns for 42 yards.Off the field, Jacob and Katie still keep in touch with LSU running backs Charles Scott and Keiland Williams, as well as former Tiger quarterback Matt Flynn, who was in the couple’s wedding. Katie Hester said they have also found niches with the Chargers.”[Jacob] has some great friends,” she said. “Philip [Rivers] has actually brought the ‘hick’ out of Jacob because he’s gotten him getting cowboy boots and all this crazy stuff.”Jacob Hester said he has also been close with former LSU teammate Craig Davis, who is in his second year as a Chargers wide receiver. Davis was placed on injured reserve Nov. 20.Jacob and Katie said while their first season in San Diego was great, they are ready to enjoy the offseason in Baton Rouge.”We’re coming back to Baton Rouge, and I’ll work out with some of the guys from LSU and enjoy some time off,” he said.—-Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]