Football wasn’t the first sport for Charleston (W.Va.) George Washington kicker Michael Hughes but he’s hoping it’s the one that he’ll be playing at the college level.

Hughes, 6-foot-2, 170-pounds, started playing soccer at the age of three but due to the encouragement of his middle school coach elected to give football a try. And as it’s commonly said, the rest is history.

The in-state product moved from Sissonville to Charleston and has been the starting kicker for the Patriots for the past three years and is primed to reprise that role this fall.

That has led to college interest as well with West Virginia State already extending a scholarship offer, and many other colleges maintaining interest including West Virginia who has offered a roster spot.

Special teams analyst Tyler Hancock as well as graduate assistant Troy Porter have been the primary contacts for the Mountaineers and the coaches have done a good job establishing a connection.

“I’ve built a relationship since the new staff got there. We built a good relationship over quarantine and my progressions kicking off the ground has really come along based off film,” he said. “With me being an in-state guy they decided to give me a roster spot.”

Hughes was a first-team all-state selection as a punter after averaging 43.5 yards per kick as a junior as well as four field goals and being perfect on his extra point attempts. While he can handle all of the positions, he is being primarily recruited as a kicker at the next level.

“I’d like to kick field goals and extra points in college and kickoffs,” he said.

West Virginia has been impressed with what he’s done on the field as well as how hard he works off it.

“They know I’m a harder worker and my progressions is at a high level so I just have to keep gaining and there is always room for success,” he said.

Hughes is keeping an open mind with his recruitment and plans on taking his time to sort out a choice.

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