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Former Alabama safety Robert Lester (38) participates in a practice with the Carolina Panthers, who signed him in April as an undrafted free agent. (Kent Smith/Carolina Panthers photo)

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – Based on one very unpleasant experience, Robert Lester had a preconceived notion about Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.

The experience was Alabama’s bitter 28-27 loss to visiting Auburn in 2010.

“When you play against a guy, especially in the SEC, you get a feel,” Lester said Tuesday. “You think they’re one way, and when you finally meet them and hang around them a little, you finally see what they’re like.”

Then: Lester was a sophomore safety for the Crimson Tide. Newton was a junior quarterback on his way to leading Auburn to the national championship.

“He was very serious on the field,” Lester said. “When you’ve got a guy who’s very serious, demanding what he wants on the field, you can’t really get a feel for who this guy is and what he’s about. I just knew he was a great football player.”

Now: Lester and Newton are new teammates with the Panthers. Newton was the first player picked in the 2011 NFL Draft. Lester signed this spring with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent.

“He mingles with everybody in the locker room,” Lester said. “He’s just overall a great guy. He’s funny. He’s a guy that messes with me every day. Whenever I see him, he says, ‘War Eagle!’”

Does Lester respond with a “Roll Tide”?

Alabama safety Robert Lester (37) encounters Auburn quarterback Cam Newton (2) during the Crimson Tide's 28-27 loss in 2010 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (The Birmingham News/Hal Yeager)

“Oh, yeah,” he said. “I’ve got to. It’s all in fun. …

“I feel like I’m playing for Auburn right now. I definitely enjoy being around him. I’m glad he’s our quarterback. I’m confident in his ability.”

Lester has been through a rookie camp and a minicamp with the Panthers and is eager for preseason camp to start on July 21 in Spartanburg. In the minicamp, he spent some time on the field with the first-team defense.

He has shaken off the disappointment of not getting drafted. Nine of his Alabama teammates were selected. A total of 21 safeties were drafted. But not the three-year starter from Foley.

“It was pretty difficult,” Lester said. “Going seven rounds and not hearing your name called is stressful. I thought for sure I would get drafted. It turned out I didn’t. A lot of people would think the dream ends there. I kept hopes alive.

“I knew I was a good ballplayer. I knew I could compete in the NFL. I knew that if there was at least one team that wanted to give me a chance, they wouldn’t regret it.”

Immediately after the draft, Lester said his agent, Pat Dye Jr., heard from 11 or 12 teams. Four teams spoke directly to Lester.

“I went with Carolina,” Lester said. “It looked like the best possibility to actually get some playing time.”

Lester was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, but his 40-yard dash time of 4.66 seconds turned off most teams. Only one team conducted a formal interview with Lester. That was the Panthers.

“I felt real comfortable about the Panthers,” Lester said. “They were the first team to call me. They definitely knew that I could come in and help them out. I felt the same way about them. If I’m not mistaken, I think they had a corner step in and play some safety last year.”

Lester scoffs at his critics.

“I’ve always had people tell me that I wasn’t good enough,” he said. “When I was in high school and I was committed to Alabama, there were people who told me I wasn’t good enough to go to Alabama. When I got to Alabama, some people told me I wasn’t good enough to play. I’ve always struggled with that my entire career, at every level. My goal is to prove them otherwise. I’ve always had to face adversity. That’s nothing new to me. People can say what they want.

“Everybody wants to talk about my speed, but I played in one of the fastest conferences there is. There’s guys slower than I am who have had long careers in the NFL.”

Robert Lester has been through a rookie camp and a minicamp with the Carolina Panthers and is looking forward to preseason camp starting on July 21 in Spartanburg, S.C. (Kent Smith/Carolina Panthers photo)

But Lester has other qualities that teams like. He’s 6-foot-1 and weighs 215 pounds.

“Teams like my size,” he said. “I’m a bigger safety. I have a great knack for the ball. I don’t always know where it came from, but I’m always around the ball. My football knowledge for the game … I didn’t always know football the way I do now, but playing for Coach (Nick) Saban prepares you. You’ve got to have play recognition. You’ve got to know what kind of formations will lead to certain plays. Little things like that give you the edge on the field.”

As a sophomore, Lester intercepted eight passes. That led the Southeastern Conference and ranked second nationally. It is tied for second in school history. Lester finished his college career with 14 interceptions in 40 starts.

He believes in studying film. He also has starred in film.

“I’m not one of the fastest guys,” he said, “but if you turn on the film and you see guys making plays … I had 14 interceptions in one of the toughest conferences there is, against some of the best players. How can you not notice that? I won three national championships. How is that going unnoticed?”

So far, Lester is comfortable with his transition to pro football.

“Coach Saban’s system prepared me for it. The practice schedule, everything I was used to. They want everybody to be on time. I don’t believe in missing meetings or being late to practice, anything like that. That comes from the discipline Coach Saban instills in you. …

“It’s still a learning process. The more I learn, the more comfortable I get.”

The first thing Lester learned isn’t surprising.

“At this level, the talent is amazing,” he said. “You’re not going to run across a guy that is not giving 100 percent effort. You’re not going to run across a guy that isn’t talented. You can’t take any plays off. I’ve learned that as long as you hold yourself accountable, you can get the job done. Don’t ever get complacent.

“At the end of the day, it’s all football. Maybe a little different ins and outs with different coaches, but it’s still about tackling the guy with the ball and keeping him from scoring.”