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Two ahead of the pack for Oak Grove standout
Story URL: http://recruiting.scout.com/2/876111.html

Yancy Porter
SuperPrep.com

Jun 30, 2009

The 5' 10", 180 pound slot back out of Oak Grove was on his way back from a Church trip to Orlando when we made contact.

"The trip was fun," added Jay Hughes. "It was a nice break from all of the camps I have been to."

Which college camps has Jay attended this summer?

"I went to Tennessee, LSU, an unofficial visit to Vandy, and I have been to MSU a couple of times."

Where does Hughes visit next?

"I am going to MSU's 1 Day football camp that they are having under the lights on July 24th. That will probably be it for me."

Was this Jay's first time to see the Tennessee campus?

"Yes, it was real nice. Their staff is real energetic, and a lot of good players came through there. My thing is that I do not think I will get on the field quickly if I go there, but they are still one of my choices."

Why does the Hattiesburg resident believe he will not get early playing time he were to attend Tennessee?

"Simply because they are not recruiting me as hard as some of the other schools. I am not saying I am still not looking at them, but I want to play. I want to fit in and everything. Playing in front of 108,000 fans is good and all, but it is not going to get me on the field any sooner. But they are still in it."

What happened at the LSU camp?

"LSU was real nice. I did not get a chance to meet Coach Miles but my recruiting coach, Joe Robertson, talked to me some. I got to see their facilities. Their facilities stood out to me the most. I would compare them to Ole Miss, but nobody has Ole Miss' IPF. LSU's IPF was real/real nice though. They had great facilities."

How did the Vandy trip go?

"That was the first time I had seen Vandy. It was real nice. They emphasized education a lot and getting a degree that means something. That is one of the main things that will help me make my final decision, my degree. Their coaching staff came up and gave me a big hug. That felt good. They made me feel really wanted at Vandy. They call me the total package, and I like that (laugh). I just like Vandy a lot. Right now they are recruiting me the hardest."

Even harder than where his father coaches, Mississippi State?

"I am saying MSU tells me what they plan on doing with me, but at Vandy I get a personal hand written letter every day saying how much they need me. I have 20 at my house right now just from this month (laugh). They are neck and neck with MSU."

What is going on with Ole MIss?

"I talk to Coach Dickerson every once in a while, not a lot, but I do not think they are going to offer me. They planned on offering me, but I guess they do not think they can get me because my dad is at MSU. But that definitely is not the case. I try and emphasis that with every coach. My dad has taken care of me all of my life, but sometimes you got to come up under your dad's arm. I like Ole Miss a lot. Hopefully they will pick it up with me because I have always liked Ole Miss. My years spent in Oxford were some of the best times of my life. I miss everyone up there."

Speaking of the Hughes family, what is going on with Jay's older brother, Jamison Hughes?

"He is going to Pearl River CC in the Fall. He will play there for one year, and then he will see what happens."

While MSU and Vandy seem to be the leaders at this point, do not count out another prestigious academic university.

"Definitely Duke is still in it. They were just about the first school to offer me, and I am real close to Coach Middleton. I talk to him just about every week. I like Duke a lot. I just think I fit in with their coaches and players. They have a lot of players like me with the same goals. Some players simply sign with someone because they are a good football school, but I want to have a nice degree that can take care of me and my family after football. That is really going to be the biggest factor in my decision. You have to think about life after football."