SDS Top 25 Players For 2012: Robert Lester

Published March 22, 2012 - 11:41am

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SDS is continually counting down the top 25 players in the SEC for 2012, and we’re not stopping until we get to No. 1.

Robert Lester – No. 9

Next up in SDS’ top 25 countdown for 2012 is Alabama safety Robert Lester.

Lester obviously didn’t have the kind of year he was hoping for in Tuscaloosa, so he returned for his senior season. And it was the right decision.

Lester exploded onto the scene in his sophomore year with Alabama (2010), and everyone expected huge things from him this past season. The Alabama defense was terrific this past year, and Lester might have been somewhat overshadowed playing beside Mark Barron.

Anyhow, Lester will be back in 2012 to anchor this Alabama defense once again.

In 2011, Lester held down his free safety spot alongside the aforementioned Barron at his strong safety position. Lester finished sixth on the Tide in tackles (39), with three pass break-ups, 1.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions.

He will be the quarterback of the defense next year, a defense that lost much talent from 2011.

Lester is a tall (6’2”), rangy and athletic safety. Particularly in man coverage, Lester does a really good job at seeing the entire field and keeping everything in front of him, rather than just playing his man the whole time. Another thing that makes Lester effective is when the ball is in the air, he can adjust his body and get in the best position to make a play.

Lester plays safety like a shortstop – when the ball is in the air, he finds the spot where it will land and tries to beat the receiver to that spot. Sometimes it happens for him, too.

Even though Lester had eight interceptions in 2010 and only had two in 2011, he is ready for a stellar senior season to end his career on a high note.

Lester is one of the best defensive backs in the SEC next year.

LESTER IN ACTION: