VERMONT SPORTS HALL OF FAME

(Photo Courtesy Nebraska Athletic Comm.)

Burlington

Football

Inducted 2019

One of the top all-around high school athletes of the 60s, Hughes went from Burlington High School to the University of Nebraska where he was a key member of the Cornhuskers back-to-back National Championships in 1970 and 1971.

A multi-sport star for the Seahorses, he was the state's top back in the mid-60s, earning all-state honors three times (1965, 66, 67) and was a member of Vermont's Shrine Bowl team.

He also excelled on the track where he was the state's top sprinter. As a BHS sophomore in 1966, he won three events at the state track championship and was the VSSA June State Athlete of the Month, the youngest boy to win the award at the time. As a senior he set the state record in the 100-yard dash, running it in 9.8 seconds, never to be topped by a Vermont high school runner (the event is now the 100-meters).

He earned a scholarship to national power Nebraska to play for legendary coach Bob Devaney in the Big Eight, then the premier conference in the nation. He was a three-year backup at tailback to Jeff Kinney, a 1971 Heisman Trophy runner-up, and at wingback to Johnny Rodgers, the 1972 Heisman Trophy winner, scoring three touchdowns in three seasons. He also was the Cornhuskers punter for three years including back-to-back national titles in 1970 and 1971.

His senior season he was part of an unbeaten 13-0 Huskers squad that defeated rival Oklahoma on Thanksgiving Day in 'The Game of the Century' and ran past Alabama in the Orange Bowl on January 1. His 1971 team was named by The Sporting News as the greatest of the century and over his last two years Nebraska went 24-0-1. 

In 1999, Sports Illustrated recognized Hughes as one of the Top 50 Greatest Sports Figures from the State of Vermont during the 20th century. He ranked 19th, the top football player on the list.

Hughes was also selected by the sports website MaxPreps.com as the top high school football player ever produced by the state of Vermont.