By Cliff Kirkpatrick
Corvallis Gazette-Times
After the first spring practice earlier this year Brandon Hughes looked at the Oregon State football team’s depth chart to find his name. When he found it near the bottom of a long list of flankers, Hughes glanced over at the depth chart for the cornerbacks. Hughes noticed there were only four inexperienced corners on the roster trying to become the two new starters. He looked back at his name at flanker, and the light bulb came on. The redshirt freshman went to the coaching staff and asked for a position change. Hughes felt that would be the best — maybe the only — way for him to get on the field other than special teams. And the Beavers and Hughes couldn’t be happier with the decision. “With a little more than six months experience playing that position, he sure is athletic enough and has speed enough to be very good,” defensive coordinator Mark Banker said. “He’ll get better. In our scheme, we don’t ask the corners to do too much. He fits the mold of what we want.” Before the second day of spring practice, the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder turned in his orange practice jersey for a black one and began working with the cornerbacks. The rest of the month was spent studying a whirlwind of new plays and techniques. Cornerbacks coach Nigel Burton and graduate assistant Keith Heyward frequently took Hughes aside to guide him in the little nuances to improve. They were trying to get him up to speed quickly so he would be prepared for the fall. “He’s doing well,” Burton said. “I don’t know if any (position change) is easy. He’s been working hard and his progression has been good. He’s got ability. He’s just a great kid as far as listening and soaking up information.” Hughes spent last season as a redshirt, practicing with the receivers. The Bloomington, Ill., native trained hard trying to learn his routes and reads, while adapting to his new surroundings. Sammie Stroughter, Hughes and other young receivers frequently stayed after practice to work more on running routes. Quarterback Colt Charles would help by throwing to them. “It was very exciting,” Hughes said of his first year at OSU. “I struggled a little bit at receiver then I moved over to corner. I felt more comfortable, and it’s been the smoothest transition.” For all the work he put in as a receiver, Hughes said he just lacked the confidence to succeed. “It was just a new atmosphere,” Hughes said. “I was into it last year, but not like I should have been. The move to corner helped improve my love for the game. I feel more competitive, at least I think I am. You just have to be an athlete and coachable, that’s all that was needed.” Hughes is still working out after most practices with Stroughter, but this time they are going one-on-one against each other. With or without a ball being thrown to them, the friends battle for supremacy just for their own enjoyment.
“He’s athletic and has speed,” Banker said. “The reason he’s not a receiver is his hands are not good enough, I guess. He’s a hard-working young man, and knows how routes are run.” The short journey from the new guy in the group to starting right cornerback was surprising with how quickly he learned the defense. He started his first game two weekends ago against Washington State. There were a few big plays he gave up early, but he came back to make seven tackles and break up three passes. “It was exciting because I just wanted to help the team and do my job,” Hughes said. “I wanted to step in and do the best job I could.” Having played in relief early this season, he wasn’t too nervous against the Cougars. He saw significant playing time against Louisville and Arizona State. The decision for Hughes to play was made early, but he only had four practices as the starter to prepare for Washington State. He was ready as the game unfolded just the way he was coached. “It surprised me that it was really fast at first,” Hughes said. “As the game went on, it slowed down for me. They made a couple plays on me, but it was a matter of looking for the ball.” In the first half of the game, Hughes would be in position but the receiver would make the catch anyway. It appeared to be the beginning of another long day for the secondary. Burton noticed the mistake from the coach’s booth from at top of Reser Stadium. At halftime he reminded Hughes during the locker room meeting to look back for the ball when in position, which led to his success. “I think Brandon Hughes did a great job,” junior strong safety Sabby Piscitelli said. “Both our corners did a good job that game. They made plays for us, and they will get better.” Hughes spent the recent bye week fine-turning his technique, prepping for this week’s game at No. 18 California. Even though the Golden Bears are a potent running team, Hughes must be prepared for an improving passing game. And being promoted in midseason, Hughes expects teams will go after him until he proves that’s a bad idea. If he continues to develop the way he has the last six months, Burton believes Hughes can be a standout with the Beavers for a long time. The lone Midwesterner on the team should help develop a strong secondary in the future. “I just have to stay humble and practice hard,” Hughes said. “And then everything else will take care of itself. It’s been fun here, and I can’t complain.”
No comments:
Post a Comment