 What's up everybody and welcome to the latest edition of the Falcons in focus podcast presented by Ticketmaster Recorded in the Ticketmaster Studios Fancy logo back there and if you aren't singing and you're listening then trust us podcast There's cameras and stuff. Not everyone watches though. Well, okay. We're off to a roaring start here. I've Scott bear That's Tori back and landing. This is Mike Hughes brand new Falcons cornerback Just just done signing on the dotted line two-year deal to join a secondary. That's got like a lot of talent Yeah, it's a fun group. I think it's gonna be an exciting room to be in right So I'm just ready to get the work man and see what we can really put together now you played with Richie Grant in 2017 at UCF Take me back to that time. What was Richie Grant like in 2017 because he was a young in at that point What was he like? What what what kind of stuff y'all get into give us all the We gotta give Richie a hard time. I mean, like you said, he was the young pup. So You know, that's I had to treat him like that little bro Give him a few pointers here and there Richie even helped me get a pick one time I remember he It was against Memphis quarterback through the ball his way. He tipped it and it just fell right into my hands. So, yeah Yeah, exactly But yeah, he was always that little bro that you you could pick on but you know to bring out the best of them And I'm sure y'all seen that the years he's been here, but he's a good player And I'm looking forward to you know, reuniting with him again Have we had any text messages any correspondence now that you're officially on the same team again? Yeah, I haven't gotten a chance to get to all of them yet, but yeah, they're flowing in right now Yeah, I bet you Richie's pretty pumped. I mean, I'm really like you go to UCF and then they just like don't lose a game anymore, right? I mean like that season for that school I mean like what an experience that must have been, you know, because it's like that like they're playing with the big boys undefeated I mean like what was that season like that experience like look you show up It you know some special things happen and you guys are off and running. I mean going undefeated like who doesn't like winning Yeah, right? I mean when you're playing a competitive sport like football, so that year was nothing but memories man It was just it was so fun. Just you know being around those guys and it was just that much easier Being on the field playing with guys because we were so tight, you know off the field So whenever we step on the field, it was just all fun like we were playing in the backyard So, you know, it was a really good time. I miss it What made that team so special you think thinking back to it thinking back to it? Because I feel like I don't know that doesn't happen very often Lightning like that. I know that the year I can't really speak The years prior I got there for a year, but I know I mean it wasn't it wasn't that great I think they had a year where they went maybe like oh and 13 Which is crazy or maybe they won a couple games, but I saw a lot of guys who were hungry We had a lot of talented guys in that locker room And once we figured out the formula to get everybody on the same page I think that's what uh, you know what kind of guy that's rolling and Scott frost I think he did a great job with that too as well. I'm shot at the Scott frost Well, yeah, I think just you know just having that camaraderie off the field really does play a big part of Any team's connection, you know, whenever we're out there battling with each other now, you know If we're talking about You see after that season, you know, we got to ask about the play the play the USF play What is it war on iPhone? You guys go what down or were you tied at that point? We were Tied yeah, it was a go ahead. I'm pretty sure yeah, and then the ball just comes floating down a mic Because listen the the very first kickoff of that game He kicked it short and we ran it the same play that I scored on later in that game We ran at the first play. I was one tackle away from going to the house So that last kick return. I just knew I just knew like once I got the ball of my hands What do you remember kind of like of that moment because look watching the video was one thing But I imagine being there was something completely different. I mean looking at the stands and everybody was in black I'm pretty sure I mean it was just like it was crazy. I remember scoring and running Like towards our tunnel and then the the kick return team They were all following me and they just kind of jumped on me and I fell so I was at the bottom of a pile just like Trying to catch my breath just waiting to get up to celebrate with the guys on the sideline But that it was it was a crazy moment. Honestly that that whole place just erupted and it's a feeling that I'll never you know forget or Probably one of the best moments of my career Yeah, I mean I just think about and I've asked you know a CP one of the best kick returners ever every Williams You know some guys who have been through that Like when you like when do you know? Like like is there a moment is there you know because it seems like everything's happening so fast, right? Right that you're just trying to get through it and survive, but it was there a moment. You're like The moment that solidified it was when I just saw me in the kicker Right, so once I saw me and him I was like, yeah, I'm going you can't get caught by the You won't you will never be able to live that down in the in the media rooms or just ever I guess but I saw the kicker I say yeah, this is game time. Yeah, I mean and really if you think about Your trajectory for lack of a better term, right? You you start in North Carolina you go back to a Juco you play one year at UCF and then you do well enough I mean you don't lose but then you're drafted in like in the first round, right? You know from the lows to finding a way to earn it the first round draft picks lot I mean if we're thinking kind of big picture like what were those two and a half plus years like you go to Kansas, right Garden City, Kansas we have some questions about But you go from Garden City, Kansas to a first round draft selection, right? I mean wow Like what a kind of comeback surge there. It was definitely a quick turnaround man And I'm always just you know blessed to you know be in that situation But it had they happen really quick Like I said, I came from Juco. I got to UCF pretty late. I think I got there like eight days before the season Yeah, like right before really late. So I kind of had to you know flip that switch as soon as I got on campus I was just ready to work And then you know the year that I had It was always talks of like man, you might go first round and where you're playing and I just never really kind of believed it until After the season and then you see all these draft boards with your name popping up So it's like wow, this is really possible and then it happens and then it's just like Guys are right, and I finally believed it and then You know there you go. I love it. I mean what I mean talking about like going from Garden City and I'm from kind of the middle of nowhere. So I could feel like I can say that maybe that's the middle of nowhere, too Oh, definitely I feel bad for all the Garden City people being like how dare she but I'm glad thank you for backing me up on that What was that like because for the first time you were kind of out of North Carolina and You're in a new place probably by yourself trying to get your feedback under you like what what were what was that year like? It was really hard It's the fact that you go from being at a division one college and then go back down to Juco so it's like you go from seeing it all to nothing and That was that was really heavy on my mental it kind of questioned if I really wanted to play the game and No, I got over that hump You know found found a love of the game again, you know, we actually had an undefeated season in Garden City That's what made it fun again, man just being around Connecting with guys from all different parts of the world having a kind of the same story And it just it brought us close. We were all close And like I said, man, it was just we made it fun and It's just that much easier going out there playing football when you can have fun and you know Just trusting your guys and that they're gonna have your back. So yeah I mean so like what is there to do for fun in Garden City again? Or maybe it's perfect because you get you you're focused on football, right? It's easy to say sure For a college kid. Yeah, I want to get out and do stuff. I mean, it definitely made me put my foot down and know Made it into a business trip. Yeah, okay Right and that and that you got business done you got back into D1 Yeah, and then you're saying okay that you thought you hear it Okay, maybe I'm gonna be there in the first round, right first round's wrapping You're in the third, you know 29 28 30. Are you thinking? Maybe I'm a day two guy are you clutching by that like like when the phone lit up? Take us back to that big party where you they did have a big party. I did party some video I had a really big party. So once he got down to those last few pigs I was definitely like man, like all these people here am I gonna have to do this again invite everybody again next day And then I saw that Minnesota area code come up on my phone. It was it was a feeling that you can't even describe I kind of knew Like what where it was going. So, um, you know once I got that phone call I had to like kind of quiet everybody down because everybody was just like doing their own thing Watching the draft or drinking Doing whatever so I kind of had to get everybody calm and once they realized that I got the call It kind of like right back up again. So No, it was a great feeling man. I'll never forget that day the it was interesting to you had a Viking's hat Like that night, right? I had all 32 all 32. Yeah, that's how you have to do it. Yeah, right? I don't know. Yeah ready. Yeah, that's cool because I saw the some pictures and some videos It's like all your family friends kind of just around you and I was like, he's wearing a Viking hat But it's cool that it's not do you still have all of those hats or what I don't Need to get that Falcon's hat back for you though. Yeah, we need to find it. Yeah, I mean and then it's like a look Injury suck but yeah the end right but it's like, you know, you first round talent, you know You come in you have a and an injury early. You have another one dealing with your neck I can't even imagine that but I guess the Like the mental fortitude to like because you you've had to grind through some stuff to grind through those periods Because you're like, okay, like I'm a first round talent. Just keep me healthy long enough to show You know what I mean? Is that sort of mentality and like how did you work through those that that level of adversity? It happens twice you battle through it. You come out of it on the other side I was a new type of adversity for me as well because I've never Been away from the game as long as I was when I tore my ACL I've never had to have surgery until I got into the NFL so when that happened it really kind of opened my eyes and I Found myself in a dark place. Honestly. Um, I wasn't able to walk for six weeks due to the damage that I have done and During those six weeks, you don't realize how many things you take for granted. Just like the simple things around the house This probably might not be inappropriate, but I had to take stool softener Yeah, I couldn't I couldn't use the bathroom for like a couple weeks my knee wouldn't you know, I mean so just Taking showers. I had to use a like a handicap chair Just a little things you don't think you know, I mean essentially like having to kind of like learn to walk again Exactly Right, especially going from like supreme athlete, right? Yeah, exactly Yeah, they just that you just really have to grip You know, I always think about like the physical stuff or like the mental side of it Really big Like I said, I was a new challenge for me that I had to get over and You know with the help of my mom my teammates and that training staff in Minnesota. They they helped me get over there Hopping I'm very appreciative of everybody who was who had a helping hand in that part. Yeah, when you kind of like think about You talk about your mom. Mm-hmm. I Was creeping on the Instagram and she she is an Instagram queen. Oh, yeah What is your mom been for you not just you know in the last few years I just going through everything but your whole life She's my world. Um She's been with me every step of the way of anything. I wanted to get my hands on or accomplish She's right there with me supporting me. I Couldn't ask for a better mom honestly, um, you know, she she she did a great job raising me You know taught me to the ins and outs of a lot of things and I'm very appreciative of her. So No, what's hot the when I got drafted the very first thing I bought it was a house her dream house So, you know, that that's I feel like that speaks a lot about you know, what she means to me. So That's pretty special. Yeah, and just to be able to have that opportunity Yeah, give back to somebody who's who's giving you so much one more question before we get to the rapid fire You know, it's like so You go through these ups and downs like that we're talking about right and then now you have an opportunity with an up-and-coming Secondary with with a guy that you know with a coach that you know, Jerry Gray. You worked with in Minnesota This seems like a really you had options, right? This seems like a really good opportunity kind of fresh start. You feel like this is an opportunity All right, the first round talent is in there like let's go do it and let's do it with it with a fun young group, you know Like I said earlier, I'm excited to get the you know get to work with these guys Being one of the now going into your seats. I'm considered one of the you know, one of the vets in the room That's another challenge I'm willing to take on and you know, whether that's helping out the younger guys or being more of a vocal leader or No, I'm not really an outspoken guy. I like to lead by example So, you know, like I said, if I have to take on that challenge of being more of a vocal guy and You know just in that aspect, I'm willing to take on that challenge, but Nonetheless, man, I'm ready to get the work with these guys and see what we can really do I think we'll shock everybody. I think I'm excited to see too I mean, this is a really cool group that's gotten put together here recently now Everyone's favorite part of the podcast rapid fire You ready there are no wrong answers. I think I don't think we don't think there's Everybody basically gets the same five. Yeah, of course, we you know judge them so like do I have to answer them really quick? Yeah, you got it. Maybe we've already discussed this one already, right? The first question everybody is the favorite play of their career. Oh, yeah, we definitely discuss Yeah, okay, um favorite movie or TV show John Wick sequel I love hitman movies. Yeah, even a equalizer Oh I mean, especially like protecting his dog, okay, you know I do Your favorite player growing up it doesn't the sport doesn't matter favorite player going up. I'm really like Devin Hester Okay, former Atlanta falcon Get him into the Hall of Fame, please. Please. Please. It's about time. Put some respect on the return man. Okay Yeah, for real. Um, if you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? Oh flying flying? That's a solid answer flying or teleport teleport is mine. Yeah I Okay, last one what is a skill that you wish you had but don't I wish I can see I Also wish I was kind of like creative like Draw something like my creative brain doesn't work. So like singing. Yeah drawing is pretty that's that's like a Real skill, right? Yeah, so it's singing. Yeah, I mean a couple bars for us. So you're not being karaoke guy, huh? No, no Have you seen Richie in the career It's legendary apparently according to Richie Oh my goodness, this is fine. This was fun. Yeah, Mike. You thank you so much for stopping by the Falcons in focus podcast presented by Ticketmaster Great conversation. I cannot wait to see the secondary Seriously so many new parts so much talent. It's gonna be fun to watch. Thank you so much We can't wait to see you out on the practice field and real field forward. Thank you And we will talk to you again next time. See ya