Strong showing

• By SCOTT RABALAIS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Apr 28, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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As a fullback, Jacob Hester’s marketability to evolving NFL offenses was debatable.

Of course, as LSU followers could tell the NFL, Hester is much more than a fullback.

“I think I can do a lot of things,” Hester said. “If they ask me to catch passes or run the ball a few times a game, I’m happy with that. I got a lot of carries in college. My first two years I lined up in the ‘I’ and was the lead blocker for (Indianapolis running back) Joseph Addai.

Apparently, Hester’s versatility appealed to the San Diego Chargers, who traded up from the fifth round Sunday to take the former Tiger with the 69th overall pick in the third round.

“You can say this about a lot of players, but Jacob Hester is a football player,” said Buddy Nix, the Chargers assistant general manager. “He won’t wow you with the workout numbers and all, but he gained over 1,000 yards in the SEC. He’s been extremely productive and we’re excited to have him.”

LSU got off to a slow start Saturday in the NFL Draft with only defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey selected. He went with the fifth overall pick to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Sunday, Tigers were drafted with a flourish, six in all, starting with cornerback Chevis Jackson with the 68th overall pick in the third round to the Atlanta Falcons. He was joined in the seventh round by tight end Keith Zinger, taken by Atlanta with the 232nd pick.

Wide receiver Early Doucet, widely projected to go on the first day, went in the third round with the 81st pick to the Arizona Cardinals.

All-American safety Craig Steltz was taken by the Chicago Bears (fourth round, 120th pick). Quarterback Matt Flynn also went in the seventh round with the 209th pick to the Green Bay Packers.

Several former Tigers quickly signed free agent contracts Sunday night: linebacker Ali Highsmith (Arizona), cornerback Jonathan Zenon (Cleveland Browns) and offensive tackle Carnell Stewart (New York Giants).

Punter Patrick Fisher has been offered a tryout with the New York Jets, according to his agent, Albert Elias.

Hester led LSU’s BCS national championship run with 1,003 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, both team highs. He also had 14 catches for 106 yards and played on special teams.