"We got tested, and I ran a 4.49 forty, 4.28 shuttle, and I had a 8 foot
4" broad jump," added the always polite Jay Hughes. "I measured
in at 5' 10", 180."
Last season Jay carried the ball 172 times for 980 yards and 17 TD's. If it were
not for a high ankle sprain the next to last regular season game, those stats
would have been even better.
"I kind of fell wrong, and somebody fell on top of it real hard. I did not
play much after I hurt my ankle."
What does Hughes do best on the field?
"I think because of my size, I am good at running to the outside and getting
to the corner. I am pretty fast, and if I find a seam up the middle, I am off
to the races. I think speed is the key to my game."
What would Jay like to work on?
"I wrote down three main goals. I want to get to 187 pounds, get my 40 down
to a 4.43, and I want to work on my hands a little more."
Getting passes is a chore on the Warrior's squad as they return two of the top
playmakers in the state at the wide receiver positions in Robert Johnson and Steve McNair.
"We all have a friendly competition, but there is no jealousy at all between
us."
Which position are the colleges looking at Jay to play?
"When I talked to Coach Mullen (MSU) the other day at Jr Day; he said he
was going to put me at what ever position I wanted to play, and if that did not
work out, he would put me where he thinks I need to be. I have not heard from
the other schools about position wise. If I do not play offense, I will play cornerback.
That is cool too because I can play that too."
Who else is recruiting the former Oxford Charger?
"I have been offered by Duke, MSU, Tennessee, USM, and Vandy. West Virginia,
Princeton, UAB, and Ole Miss are also writing me."
Who is closest to offering next?
"I spoke to a coach from UAB the other day. He messaged me on facebook, and
he told me they are going to recruit me real hard. I am supposed to go to camp
at Florida this summer too."
Anymore camps on tap?
"I plan on going to Auburn, MSU, La Tech, and maybe Ole Miss and Tennessee."
Where does the hometown school, USM, stand?
"Nobody really stands out right now. I have not heard a lot from them, but
it is a great school though. My brother (Jamison Hughes) still goes to school
there. He tells me it is a great time, but like I said, nobody stands out with
me right now."
Jay's father, Tony Hughes, was an assistant at Ole Miss for three years. What
are his thoughts on the Rebels?
"I really like Ole Miss. I have not heard a lot from there either, but they
are at the top of my list as far as interest level goes. I liked Ole Miss when
my dad was there. I liked being on campus and being around the people up there."
When Coach Orgeron was dismissed from Ole Miss, Coach Hughes left for Southern
Mississippi for a year. Now he is at Mississippi State. Where do the Dogs fit
in the picture?
"I really like MSU a lot. At Jr Day, it was a lot better than I thought or
expected. The dorm rooms are amazing. They are like a hotel room. The coaches
are real down to earth. You can tell it is a family environment. The facilities
are like brand new. It is just a unique feeling about the whole place."
Jay's older brother, Jamison Hughes, transferred from Ole Miss to USM when their
father switched schools. What kind of role will Jay's father have with his recruitment?
"He took the initiative to tell Melvin Smith to recruit me because he said
it would be too weird for him to tell me how great it is at MSU (laugh). He talks
to me like he is my dad instead of trying to tell me how great of a school MSU
is. A lot of people ask me if I could really go anywhere else that my dad is not
coaching, and I tell them definitely. I love my dad to death, but they sky is
the limit, and I want to see what all is out there."
Who else is on Jay's mind?
"I want to see what Tennessee is like. You know Coach O (Orgeron) is up there.
He is one of my favorite coaches. I like him a lot, and he likes me too. I also
want to see what Duke has to offer. You can't get a better degree than Duke."
You can reach Yancy Porter at yporter@scout.com
|