Alabama center commits to Rebels

Scout.com's #15 nationally rated center has committed to the University of Mississippi. To learn why he choose Ole Miss, read below.

"I wanted to get down there this weekend to see them play Memphis so I could tell them in person that I was going to commit," stated Chase Hughes. "But our coach called a practice on Sunday, and with this being my senior year and putting in all of the time I have into the team, there was just no way I was going to miss practice. I did not get to commit in person, but I called Coach Markuson and told him congrats about their game. I then told him that I was ready to be a Rebel. He was pretty happy about it (laugh)."

The 6' 3", 295 pounder choose the Rebels over Stanford and Duke.

"I had narrowed it down to Duke, Stanford, and Ole Miss. Coaches Cut and Harbrough are building something great at both programs, but God led me to Ole Miss. I finally got that feeling I had been waiting for."

There were several factors that put the Rebels over the top.

"They just met all of my criteria I had listed. First, they have an amazing staff. Secondly, their strength coach is exactly what I want to be. He leads his witness (to God) through his weight program. That is what I want to do when I am done playing football. Coach Decker (OM strength coach) was a big part of my decision. Third, the players at Ole Miss are really nice and have a lot of the same values that I have. That was also very big because those will be your teammates and the players you go to battle with day in and day out for the next four to five years. Four, it is close to home. Five, from what I hear, the girls are supposed to be pretty nice (laugh). I love being around pretty people (laugh). And lastly, I just like the feel of it when I am on their campus. The people in the town and just everything about it."

The 2008 Alabama State Power lifting Champ for all classifications has helped Springville to a 2-0 start but it has not been easy.

"We are 2-0 and are trying to keep the "zero" up there for as long as we can (laugh). But let me tell you, they have been some grueling games. We played against Walker in our opening game. They were ranked #7 overall and we were #10. It was a physical game. I mean physical. We won 14-6 but it was not easy. Last week we played Pleasant Grove (AL). In my opinion, we did not come out ready to play. We got down 20-0, but we scored two TD's in the last two minutes of the half. We ended up scoring 40 unanswered points, but then they scored 19 back. It was 40-39, and they had the ball on our fifteen yard line and went for it on 4th and 2. We stuffed them, and ended up winning the game. It was one of the more nerve racking games I have ever been in."

Hughes has been starting at right tackle this season and feels good about his play this season.

"It has been good, but it definitely could be better. There is always room for improvement, but it has been good. Now that I have this off of my shoulders, I am hoping I will go out and dominate."

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Yancy Porter is the Recruiting Analyst for the state of Mississippi and can be reached at
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