[Tuck4Bama]

AUBURN -- Barred from stepping on the field, Brad Lester spent the last five weeks summoning all the enthusiasm he could muster as a cheerleader on the sidelines.

With every Auburn touchdown, he was leaping in the air. With every defensive stand, he was twirling a towel to encourage the crowd.
"I love being around the game even when I'm not playing," Lester said.
For the first half of the season, Lester's only risk of injury has been spinning cartwheels after one of his teammates' big plays. So when Lester returned to action Saturday against Vanderbilt, he had an unexpected advantage. While everyone else was bruised and fatigued, Lester's legs were opening-day fresh.

"Everybody wants to play from the beginning of the season," Lester said. "But I've got fresher legs."

READY TO RUN: 'Fresh' Lester glad to be back in lineup- al.com