Mike Hughes (American football)


Mike Hughes is an American football cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He played college football at UCF.

Early years

Hughes attended New Bern High School, where he lettered in football, track & field, and basketball. Hughes played quarterback at New Bern. As a senior in 2014, Hughes passed for 1,263 yards and 10 touchdowns and also rushed for 1,355 yards and 22 more touchdowns, guiding his team to an undefeated season and an NCHSAA 4A state championship. He was named to the all-state team and played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. Hughes was ranked the No. 3 cornerback in North Carolina and committed to the University of North Carolina to play college football.

College career

Hughes played one year at North Carolina in 2015. In October 2015, he was suspended along with M. J. Stewart, and was charged with misdemeanor assault charges from an altercation that had occurred earlier that month. He left the team after the season and transferred to Garden City Community College, where he spent a year.
In 2017, Hughes transferred to the University of Central Florida and participated in UCF's undefeated national championship 2017 season. Hughes made headlines with his game-sealing 95-yard kickoff return in the November 24, 2017, War on I–4 game against the South Florida Bulls, with Orlando Sentinel writer Shannon Green remarking that the play saved the undefeated season for the Knights.
Hughes left UCF after one season, deciding to forgo his senior year and enter the 2018 NFL Draft.

Professional career

2018: Rookie year

On April 26, 2018, the Minnesota Vikings selected Hughes in the first round, 30th overall, of the 2018 NFL Draft. Hughes signed a four-year contract with the Vikings on July 19, 2018, with St. Paul Pioneer Press writer Chris Tomasson reporting that Hughes had signed a $9.87 million deal with a signing bonus of $5.256 million. In his NFL debut, he recorded a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Vikings' 24–16 season-opening win over the San Francisco 49ers. On October 14, 2018, in a Week 6 game against the Arizona Cardinals, Hughes suffered a torn ACL, prematurely ending his rookie season.

2019

Hughes entered the season as the fourth cornerback on the Vikings depth chart. In week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Hughes forced a fumble on rookie wide receiver Mecole Hardman on a kickoff return and the ball was recovered by teammate Holton Hill in the 26–23 loss. He was placed on injured reserve on January 3, 2020 with a neck injury. He finished the season with 45 tackles, nine passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and an interception through 14 games and three starts.