Juwuane \u201cJuju\u201d Hughes is no stranger to pro football, but the Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back will have a new first added to his resume on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old defensive back will suit up for his first regular-season CFL game due to star defender Rolan Milligan Jr.<\/a> being added to the six-game injured list with a shoulder injury he suffered in the team\u2019s 31-27 win over the B.C. Lions<\/a> last weekend.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a blessing,\u201d Hughes said. \u201cJust excited for the opportunity. I have been working for this, and this is why they brought me here, and excited to get to it.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the first things you notice about Hughes when he is practicing is that he frequently has a toothpick in his mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cI was a sophomore in high school, and it was supposed to help me stop biting my nails,\u201d Hughes explained. \u201cIt helped me for two weeks. I still bite my nails to this day but the toothpick just became my thing.\u201d<\/p>\n The Hanford, Calif., product played in 26 NFL games during his time with the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions. He also had a stint with the Arizona Cardinals before playing with the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a blessing. I think that\u2019s what a lot of us worked to get to,\u201d Hughes said. \u201cThat was a dream and a goal, so definitely a blessing just to get there and be there for three years \u2013 everything I could ask for.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s also appeared in the\u00a0Hard Knocks\u00a0series as a member of all three teams.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was cool all three years to get that experience and be around it and see it behind the scenes and everything,\u201d Hughes said.<\/p>\n While this is his first season in the CFL, the league has been on his radar. Both Hughes and wide receiver KeeSean Johnson<\/a> were teammates at Fresno State, where the defensive co-ordinator in 2017 was Orlondo Steinauer, the former head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the team\u2019s current president of football operations.<\/p>\n \u201c(Johnson) was in my ear a little bit getting me out here,\u201d Hughes said. \u201cWatching him do his thing out here these last few years, and him being in my ear helped get me to come out here.\u201d<\/p>\n During preseason action, Hughes had six defensive tackles and two special-teams tackles, which helped earn him a spot on the practice roster.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I worked for all year,\u201d Hughes said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a blessing to be able to show my talent and show what I am capable of. Don\u2019t want to look too far into it, just excited for my opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n Hughes said he\u2019s already learned a lot about the Canadian game from Milligan Jr., who was the CFL\u2019s 2024 Most Outstanding Defensive Player<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a pro\u2019s pro. A vet in the game, and knows how to do everything top-down and play the game at an elite level,\u201d Hughes said. \u201cA great guy to have in your corner.\u201d<\/p>\n