2021
Played in all 12 games during his fourth season, adding depth to Bears secondary and special teams ... Recovered 2 fumbles in Valley play, which matched the second-most in the conference (0.25 per game) ... Posted 3 total tackles, including 2 solo stops on season ... Had a solo tackle and fumble recovery in homecoming win over Indiana State (10/16/22) ... Also had a key fumble recovery in home win over No. 20 Northern Iowa (11/13/21) at home ... Had a pass break-up in road win at Dixie State (11/20/21) ... Posted a solo tackle in NCAA FCS Playoff game vs. UT Martin (11/27/21).
2020-21
Played in 9 games as a sophomore ... Credited with 4 solo tackles during the spring portion of the schedule -- including 3 at home -- with stops at Western Illinois (2/27/21), vs. North Dakota State (3/6/21), vs. Southern Illinois (3/27/21) and vs. Youngstown State (4/10/21) ... Also broke up a pass in win over Youngstown State ... Played in NCAA FCS Playoff game at North Dakota (4/24/21).
2019
As a redshirt freshman, Hessefort played in 7 games with 5 starts ... Started first 3 games of the season and last 2 games of the year at left corner ... Brought down 16 ball carriers on the season with 11 solos ... Matched season-high with 4 tackles in opener at Northern Arizona (8/29/19) with a pair of solos and a tackle for loss and a pass break-up ... Had 3 tackles, 2 solos and a TFL at Tulane (9/14/19) ... Posted season-highs with 3 solo stops and 4 total stops at Southern Illinois (11/9/19) ... Ended season with 3 stops vs. Indiana State (11/23/19) ... Logged 3 tackles and a pass break-up in Maroon and White Spring Game (4/18/19).
2018
Redshirted as a true freshman after playing 4 games ... Had a 17-yard kickoff return in win at Indiana State (10/13/18) along with a tackle ... Recorded his first career tackle and a fumble recovery in his debut vs. No. 20 Northern Arizona (9/15/18) at Plaster Stadium ... Also saw action in home games against Illinois State (9/29/18) and North Dakota State (11/10/18).
High School
Starting defensive back on back-to-back state runner-up squads at Blue Springs (Mo.) High for coach Kelly Donohoe … Helped the Wildcats to an 11-3 record in each of his last two seasons … Earned all-state, all-district, all-metro and all-conference laurels in 2017 … Began his prep career at wide receiver before transitioning to DB his junior year … Was also a noted sprinter and long jumper on the Blue Springs track team.
Personal
Nicholas Gage Hessefort was born 1/7/00 in Independence, Mo. ... Son of Kent Hessefort and Janell Craig of Blue Springs, Mo. ... Has two brothers, Preston and Logan ... Majoring in Communication Studies.
