I chose Missouri Baptist because of the championships we can build together.
Lucas Hughes, Spartan Signee
Coach Craig Clayton, recently retired head man of the Hopkinsville program, called it amazing that Hughes was able to transform himself into an All-State football player in only a year and a half of substantial playing time. Coach Clayton attributed it to Hughes’ perseverance and hard work. We would agree with that.
Hughes, who played his entire senior year of high school while only 17-years of age, may well have benefited from holding back under the Senate Bill (2021 KY SB-128) permitting an additional year of eligibility for qualified petitioners. Hughes didn’t elect to utilize this measure. Today we saw Hughes make the most of his opportunities notwithstanding.
Hughes is an athletic and explosive 6-4, 260-pound young man who has plus length and height on a frame which will only fill out further as he matures in a college football and weight program. Hughes’ best football is still in front of him.
People around the Spartan’s program tell KPGFootball Hughes will play guard more than likely at Missouri Baptist but could stay at tackle where he played at Hoptown. Missouri Baptist indicates it expects Hughes to challenge for immediate playing time provided he has the type offseason the school expects.
We asked Hughes what made him pick the Spartans over the Purple Raiders of Mount Union, who also came in with a strong offer for Hughes to join its program. Mount Union, after all, has won 11-national titles and was voted by ESPN one of college football’s 20-best football programs at any level of competition.
“I wanted the opportunity to build a program into national prominence not go somewhere where that tradition has been built for me. In the end, I chose Missouri Baptist because of the championships we can build together,” Hughes told KPGFootball.
The match between the program and the player appears well suited. The Spartans showed the savvy to commit to bringing Hughes to St. Louis to build its program and, in the offing, got a player who has incredible upside, is athletic and aggressive, and still physically maturing. Hughes gets a program with brand new facilities, a fine academic reputation, and a football team both working hard and hungry for success at its level of play.
Each side of this courtship left the signing table today a winner. Each side improved its fortunes dramatically. That’s how one knows this was a good match and a smart move all the way around the horn.
Hughes made the KPGFootball All-State 1st-Team in 2021. Hughes was also selected to the Associated Press All-State Football Team (HM, OL).
This is Coach HB Lyon, reporting for KPGFootball, and we’re JUST CALLING IT LIKE WE SEE IT!
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