\u201cI\u2019m super excited. First professional start and I couldn\u2019t think of it in a better way. Everyone\u2019s path is different,\u201d the 22-year-old product of Charleston, W.Va, said. \u201cJust putting my best foot forward every day\u2014 no pun intended.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hughes signed with the Riders on Oct.7 after a collegiate career at Appalachian State University where he connected on 35 of 42 field goal attempts. He said things moved quickly once the Riders showed interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got a call from my agent saying, \u2018Hey, the Riders want to bring you up and work you out, they are looking to bring a guy in for the rest of the year,\u2019 and I told them I was interested. An hour later, I got a call and we booked a flight the next Monday morning,\u201d Hughes said. \u201cI drove four hours north back home, got about three-and-a-half hours of sleep, got on a plane and three flights later I was here.\u201d<\/p>\n
He gets the start ahead of Brett Lauther<\/a>, who has been listed as out with a back injury. Hughes said the veteran kicker has been a big help<\/a> for him.<\/p>\n \u201cI have leaned on him a lot over the last two or three weeks I have been here, just seeing how he moves on a day-to-day basis and how he treats every single rep,\u201d Hughes said.<\/p>\n That even included kicking towards Pil Country, where the winds can have an effect on kicks.<\/p>\n \u201cPil Country is a different breed. It\u2019s different down there on that end zone because the wind is in your face so you really have to stay true to who you are and trust it \u2014 that\u2019s all you can really do,\u201d Hughes said.<\/p>\n Hughes admits he will take some time before the game to appreciate the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to. The last thing you want to do is go out there and have a big adrenaline rush and just be like, \u2018Holy crap, what is going on.\u2019 If I go out there and kick the game off, I\u2019ll probably do a full 360 (degree turn) and I\u2019ll take in the moment and then I\u2019ll take a deep breath and I\u2019ll do my job because that\u2019s what I am here to do,\u201d Hughes said.<\/p>\n But Hughes won\u2019t have any family there for his first start \u2014 he told them to save up for November.<\/p>\n \u201cI told them to hold off because if we are going to make the Grey Cup \u2014well, we are \u2014 but that\u2019s the end goal. I told them to hold off, save their money and come to Winnipeg,\u201d Hughes said.<\/p>\n Some other moves for the Riders this week include safety Nelson Lokombo<\/a> making his return to the lineup. Quarterback Trevor Harris<\/a> and running back AJ Ouellette are back as well, but could be on a snap count.<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/riders-lions-oct-24-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/riders-lions-oct-24-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n