Devin Hester's electric returns took him from South Florida to Pro Football Hall of Fame

It's not every day a player who made his biggest impact returning kicks makes the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Actually, before Devin Hester came along, it had never happened before.

That changed Thursday when Hester, one of South Florida's greatest athletes, got the call to Canton, Ohio, as part of the Class of 2024. He will join Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeney, Andre Johnson and Patrick Willis, along with senior candidates Randy Gradishar and Steve McMichael, as the newest members of the Hall of Fame in August.

Hester's induction marks one of the most unusual in NFL history. Special teamers don't normally get the nod: Four kickers and just one punter have been gifted with the golden jacket. But anyone who watched Hester knew he was a one-of-a-kind talent, setting the NFL record with 20 return touchdowns as a member of the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons.

“If you are one of one, you deserve to be in the Hall of Fame,” Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin said of his fellow Miami Hurricane.

Hester becomes the second Palm Beach County player to make the Hall of Fame, joining former New Orleans Saints linebacker and Pahokee High School grad Rickey Jackson. He and Johnson will be the 10th and 11th Miami Hurricanes to receive the honor.

Here are 10 things to know about the most special return specialist:

Where and when was Devin Hester born? Devin Hester's jersey retired by Suncoast High School

Devin Devorris Hester was born November 4, 1982, in Riviera Beach, Florida.

Hester played at Suncoast High School in Riviera Beach, graduating in 2002. He was a five-star recruit who was ranked the top recruit in Florida, the No. 2 cornerback recruit in the nation and a first-team All-American by USA TODAY.

Hester's number 23 was retired by Suncoast in 2017, the first player in school history to receive the honor.

How was Devin Hester's college football career? Did he play with Andre Johnson at Miami?

Devin Hester stayed in South Florida for college, playing for the Miami Hurricanes from 2003 to 2005. He played alongside players who would dominate in the NFL from running backs Frank Gore, tight ends Kellen Winslow and Greg Olsen, linebacker Jon Beason and defensive back Sean Taylor.

Hester played both offense and defense for the Hurricanes. He had 24 carries for 160 yards and a touchdown, plus 10 catches for 196 yards and a touchdown. As a cornerback, he had four interceptions and returned a fumble for a touchdown in his sophomore season, adding 11 tackles, a sack and an interception as a junior.

But of course, Hester excelled at returns. He had 638 kick return yards with four touchdowns and 1,019 punt return yards with two TDs. His stellar 2004 season, in which he notched six total touchdowns, got him on the Walter Camp and Sporting News All-America first teams. And to top it off, he was a track star for the Hurricanes, winning the Big East indoor long jump title in 2004.

Hester was named to the UM Hall of Fame in 2018. He came to Miami a year after wide receiver Andre Johnson, who was also named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday, left for the NFL.

How many years did Devin Hester play in the NFL? What teams was Devin Hester on?

Devin Hester was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft, 57th overall, by the Chicago Bears. He played 11 seasons in the NFL for four teams:

• 2006-13: Chicago Bears

• 2014-15: Atlanta Falcons

• 2016: Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks

Hester played from 2010-13 with pass rusher Julius Peppers, who also was named to the Hall of Fame on Thursday.

How many times was Devin Hester an All-Pro?

Devin Hester was a first-team All-Pro three times, including his first two seasons in the NFL. Hester had 1,128 return yards in his rookie season of 2006 with six touchdowns (three on kickoffs, two on punts and one on a missed field goal). In 2007, he put up 1,585 return yards with six TDs (four on kickoffs, two on punts).

Hester also made All-Pro in 2010 when he racked up 991 return yards with three touchdowns (all on kickoffs). He also had four touchdowns as a wide receiver that season.

He made the Pro Bowl four times: 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2014, when he had a league-leading 1,128 punt return yards and four total touchdowns (one kick return, two receiving and one rushing) with the Atlanta Falcons.

Hester also was part of the NFL's All-Decade Teams for the 2000s and 2010s.

What records does Devin Hester hold?

Devin Hester goes down as the best return specialist in NFL history. The speed demon has an NFL record 20 return touchdowns, one more than North Fort Myers native and FSU football star Deion Sanders. He also holds the record for punt return touchdowns with 14 (Eric Metcalf is second with 10).

Here's a look at Devin Hester's return stats and how they rank in NFL history:

What is Devin Hester's longest kick return?

On a Sunday Night Football game November 12 in his rookie season of 2006, Hester caught a field goal attempt by the New York Giants' Jay Feely two yards short of the back of the end zone. After a brief hesitation to let blockers get into place, Hester sprinted down the right side of the field for a 108-yard touchdown, which was at the time an NFL record.

When was Devin Hester in the Super Bowl? Former Miami Hurricane started the 2007 Super Bowl with a touchdown

Devin Hester's incredible rookie season ended with a return to his college stomping grounds: Hard Rock Stadium (then Dolphin Stadium) in Miami Gardens. He marked his return home with style, returning the opening kickoff for a 92-yard touchdown.

The rest of the game belonged to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, who beat the Bears 29-17.

Did Devin Hester play on defense at cornerback? Did he play wide receiver?

The Bears and Falcons tried to utilize Hester's skills on more than special teams. Chicago drafted him to play cornerback despite playing wide receiver in college, but after his electric rookie season as a returner, they flipped him to the offense.

In an era before non-positional playmakers like the San Francisco 49ers' Deebo Samuel, offensive coordinators had a hard time figuring out ways to get Hester the ball in open space. Hester never really stuck as an offensive player, though, and now admits he never really understood offense and “every time I would break the huddle, my mind was racing.”

Throughout his career, Hester was targeted as a receiver 449 times with 255 catches for 3,311 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also was used on running plays, getting 36 carries for 116 yards and one touchdown, coming in 2014 with the Falcons.

While he was listed as a cornerback, Hester never actually played much defense outside of his rookie season. He has 18 career fumble recoveries, but most of those would have come on balls that he fumbled during his electric returns.

What is Devin Hester's net worth? How much money did Devin Hester make?

Devin Hester made more than $32 million over his NFL career, according to Over The Cap. Spotrac says he made over $29 million.

When will Devin Hester make the Hall of Fame?

Devin Hester was announced Thursday, February 8, as part of the 2024 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here's the full Class of 2024:

• Devin Hester, return specialist (2006-17): Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks

• Dwight Freeney, defensive end (2002-17): Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks

• Andre Johnson, wide receiver (2003-16): Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans

• Julius Peppers, defensive end (2002-18): Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers

• Patrick Willis, linebacker (2007-14): San Francisco 49ers

• Randy Gradishar, linebacker (1974-83): Denver Broncos

• Steve McMichael, defensive tackle (1980-94): New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers

Hester and the rest of the Class of 2024 will be formally enshrined August 3, 2024, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The ceremony will air on ESPN and NFL Network. Visit the Hall of Fame's website for ticket information.

Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Devin Hester: What to know, NFL Hall of Fame highlights, stats