Alabama Football: 30 Tide Greats who exceeded their 3-Star high school rankings
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football players who exceeded 3 star ranking: 13. Robert Lester
- Foley, AL
- Safety (2008-2012)
- 2009 Recruit Ranking: 3-Star
- No. 2 Alabama All-Time Season Interceptions (tied with Harry Gilmer)
Robert Lester and Julio Jones were childhood buddies growing up in Foley, AL. Coming out of high school, every major college who thought they had a chance, chased after Jones. Lester did not garner anywhere near the same attention.
During the 2008 recruiting cycle, rival college coaches started to pay more attention to Lester. Some of them suggested he would get more playing time at their school. A few even claimed Alabama was only recruiting Lester as an aid to the Tide’s recruitment of Julio.
Robert Lester signed with Alabama despite all the negative rumors. He sat out the 2008 season as a redshirt. As a sophomore in 2009, Lester played in eight games.
He became a starting safety for the Crimson Tide in 2010 and started every game for three seasons. In 2010 he led the SEC with eight interceptions.
By the end of his college career in 2012, Robert Lester played in 48 games for Alabama. He made 146 tackles and made 14 interceptions.
Lester was undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft. He signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers. Lester played in 13 games for the Panthers in 2013 and 2014. He had four career NFL starts.