Hughes' feel for recruiting won't be easy to replace
STARKVILLE - Brian Johnson first met Tony Hughes as a high school quarterback in Baytown, Texas. Hughes recruited Johnson to come to Louisiana Tech, but the two-star quarterback wound up signing with Utah and Dan Mullen.
“I guarantee you that's the only time coach Mullen has ever beaten him in recruiting,” Johnson said. “I've known coach Hughes for a long time.”
More than a decade later Mullen will have to fight Hughes for recruits again. On Monday, Hughes left MSU to accept the head coaching position at Jackson State. Hughes’ on-field title at Mississippi State was assistant head coach and safeties coach. But his title of recruiting coordinator made him invaluable to Mississippi State.
Hughes spent 29 years coaching in the Magnolia State. Few, if any, understand the recruiting landscape within these borders better than Hughes. He’s coached high schools, in junior college, and at Southern Miss, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
His familiarity within Mississippi's high schools allowed the Bulldogs to unearth many prospects overlooked by other programs.
“He has been a loyal assistant and a tireless recruiter,” Mullen said in a release. “He’s done a tremendous job in helping elevate our program in our seven years here.”
Hughes also had the tools to reel in the highly-touted prospects. Last year, Leo Lewis, the top-rated inside linebacker in the country, remained undecided heading into signing day. Hughes closed the deal.
“Thank you for (Tony Hughes), God Bless,” Lewis tweeted after Hughes’ announcement at Jackson State.
Hughes built the same relationship with Farrod Green, who enrolled in the same class as Lewis. Green didn’t immediately qualify with MSU, but Hughes’ impact never faded.
“Thank you (Tony Hughes) for believing in me when no one else did. Love you coach,” Green tweeted.
Hughes’ fingerprints will be on Mississippi State well beyond this year. Greg Eiland, a 2016 MSU commit, gave his verbal commit after Hughes recruited the Philadelphia offensive lineman. Eiland said his allegiance changes "a little bit" because of the foundation Hughes laid.
“Coach Hughes is somebody that I feel like I talk to any time I need,” Eiland said. “We’ve built a good bond between each other.”
There are many that can fill Hughes’ vacancy within the coaches office and meeting rooms. It won’t be as easy within the living rooms of recruits.
“He is an unbelievable man. He’s an unbelievable mentor, an unbelievable person,” wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales said. “From that standpoint he will be missed. What he’s done for these children, the children that become men, he’s second to none.”
Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @MikeBonner on Twitter.