Liberty continues to add pieces to its defensive roster for 2025, picking up a commitment from Florida State transfer defensive end Aaron Hester.
Hester played in eight games in 2024 for the Seminoles, finishing the year with 10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and one pass breakup. He was the highest graded returning EDGE for Florida State, per PFF, following the 2024 season before deciding to enter the portal. Over the course of his first two seasons in Tallahassee in 2022 and 2023, he played in four games and had two tackles. Hester has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Coming out of high school, Hester was rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN and ranked as the No. 24 prospect nationally at his position and No. 61 prospect out of Florida by Rivals. He was a consensus top 70 prospect in Florida in his recruiting class. The 6’2″, 245 pound Hester had 46 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and 26 QB hurries in 10 games played during his senior year of high school. He is the son of Ron Hester who played for Florida State from 1978-81 and was a sixth round selection of the 1982 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
Hester will look to help solidify the Liberty defensive front, particularly at defensive end where TJ Bush entered the portal this spring and ended up transferring to Cal.
