FLIGHTS? FOOTBALL? Hughes Signs With NMU
Click the AUDIO button to hear interview with Aaron Hughes
GLADSTONE---It went down to the wire, with one big question still unanswered in the mind of Aaron Hughes: the Air Force or college football? The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Upper Peninsula Dream Team lineman thought about it, and then thought some more.
The verdict? Hughes will be wearing the Green and Gold of the Northern Michigan University Wildcats. He announced on National Signing Day Wednesday that he is accepting the Wildcats' offer and will be one of 30 new recruits for third-year head coach Shane Richardson. Six of them, including Hughes, are from the U.P.
“I was 50-50 on that for the past week and a half,” Hughes told RRN Sports Wednesday night. “It all came down to me wanting to play football. Because the Air Force is always going to be there for me if I want to go into the military. I can go to college for four years and then I could go into the service. But football. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience it.”
To understand how hard the decision was, you have to know the history of the Hughes family. Aaron's two older brothers, Lucas and Drew, are both currently serving in the Air Force. To say that it's a military family would be a huge understatement.
“My brothers are super proud of me,” Hughes said. “Especially my brother Lucas. He knew I was putting a lot of work in (on football), especially over the summers. My brother Drew, too. They saw the work I was putting in to make my dream come alive, and I think that by committing to Northern, my dream has been fulfilled.”
With his family fully supporting his decision, Hughes says he's ready to make an impact on a Northern team that has lost 26 straight games, going back to 2022.
“I think my size and agility will help the team out really well,” Hughes said. “When I was at the official visit last week, and I was labeled as an “athlete”, which means I can pretty much play at any position. I think with everyone that got recruited this year, and just touring the facility, it really sounds like program is really going up now. So, we should expect to win some games next year.”
And Hughes will have one last hurrah in a Gladstone football helmet when he plays in the Upper Peninsula All-Star Football game...inside his future home, the Superior Dome, in June.
“It's going to be surreal,” Hughes said.
Besides Hughes, five other Yoopers signed with Northern: Alex Jayne (Iron Mountain), Ian Engstrom (Negaunee), Javon Stevenson (Escanaba), Jack Dusseault (Munising), and Wes Bennett (DeTour).
