Hughes recovered from injury, ready to compete
Freshman offensive lineman Chris Hughes had a simple message for Kansas football fans: he’s ready.
“Rock Chalk Jayhawk,” the 6-foot-5, 260-pound tackle shouted as he arrived on campus. “My goals for my first year in this program are to make as big an impact as possible, and to turn the perception of Kansas Football around.”
The three-star prospect from Harker Heights (TX) suffered a knee injury last year, missing his entire senior season. Despite spending the 2015 campaign on the sidelines, Hughes still had his pick of nine Division I scholarship offers. He chose KU over Cal, Houston, and Texas Tech among others.
“I was mostly focused on getting back to 100-percent after my injury,” he said of his rehabilitation. “I’m excited to be a part of such a great program. I want to help my team be as successful as I can, and I can't do that if I'm not 100.”
“I’m looking forward to playing at this next level,” Hughes continued about his move to the college game. “Seeing how my talent stacks up against other phenomenal athletes. Getting the experience and skill to, hopefully, go to the next level after college.”
The Knights alum stayed in touch with the Kansas coaching staff priot to his arrival in Lawrence. According to Hughes, second-year head coach David Beaty and company have high hopes for the athletic OT prospect.
“Their expectations haven't changed from the first time I met them,” Hughes said of the Jayhawks. “They expect me to be an impact player, and a leader. Also to hopefully, maybe, be a starter. But I'll have to earn it, and it depends on how my recovery is coming along, too.”
Hughes knows the Kansas program has struggled over the past five seasons. Despite the lack of wins, he sees potential in the roster, and in Beaty’s mantra of “Earn it.”
“For those who truly know football, they realize how good of a team we can be," he said. "I know we can get there, through hard work, dedication, and pushing the limits of each other, every day, to become the best we can be. I feel like we have the right set of players and the right coaches to get the job done."