Michael Hughes K App State 2025 Tropical Bowl

Position Kicker
Class Senior
Ht./Wt. 6-3 / 190
Hometown Charleston, WV
Highschool Georgetown HS

Career entering 2024: Second-team All-American and FBS Special Teamer of the Year (for kicking and kickoffs) by the College Football Network in 2023 … After kicking off as a true freshman in 2021, totaled 188 points in 2022-23 by going 28-for-34 on field goals (82.4 percent) and 104-for-104 on extra points … In 41-40 win at ULM, 54-yard field goal to erase a two-point deficit as time expired was the longest game-winning field goal to end an App State victory in program history … Provided tiebreaking points in 17-14 win at No. 6 Texas A&M in 2022 with his first career field goal … Had his jersey displayed in the College Football Hall of Fame later that season … In three seasons kicking off, has 98 touchbacks along with directional kicks that were effective in forcing opposing teams to start drives inside their 25.

2023: Named a second-team All-American and the FBS Special Teamer of the Year (for kicking and kickoffs) by the College Football Network … Second-team All-Sun Belt from the league … In 14 games, totaled 111 points by going 19-for-22 on field goals and 54-for-54 on extra points … Ended season with 11 consecutive made field goals, and had hit seven in a row prior to one being blocked at Wyoming … Key performer in the 13-9 victory against Miami (Ohio) in the Cure Bowl with two made field goals in a driving rainstorm … Made every attempt inside 43 yards and both attempts of 50-plus yards, including a game-winning 54-yarder as time expired to erase a two-point deficit in a 41-40 road win at ULM … Tied a career high with four made field goals at Wyoming … Made two field goals in the double-overtime loss at No. 17 UNC, two in the overtime win at No. 18 JMU and two in the rivalry win against Georgia Southern … Game-ending kick at ULM was the longest game-winning field goal to end an App State victory in program history … The 54-yard kick tied for the third-longest field goal in program history and was the longest App State field goal since 2000.

2022: Handled kicks and kickoffs in all 12 games … Made 9 of 12 field goals and was a perfect 50 of 50 on PATs for a total of 77 points … Made his first career field goal in the fourth quarter at Texas A&M — a tiebreaking kick from 29 in the 17-14 win — and had his jersey displayed in the College Football Hall of Fame … One of 14 kickers nationally to attempt at least 50 extra points with no misses … Sent 32 of 72 kickoffs into the end zone for a touchback … Sun Belt’s ninth-leading scorer with 6.42 points per game … Went 2 of 2 on field goals, including a career-long 40-yarder, in the win over ODU … Made a career-high four FGs at Georgia Southern (tied for second-most in school history, behind six from Drew Stewart in 2011).

2021: Appeared in all 14 games and handled kickoffs as a true freshman … Helped App State turn a 14-0 deficit into a 14-14 tie in a 30-27 win against No. 14 Coastal Carolina by drilling a short, line-drive onside kick toward the right sideline after App State’s first touchdown, with teammate Milan Tucker making a diving, one-hop catch to help set up the Mountaineers’ second score … Kicked off 95 times with 32 touchbacks, an average of 60.1 yards per kick and an average starting field position of the 26-yard line — App State’s offense had an average starting field position of the 31 with the opponents delivering only 18 touchbacks on 69 kickoffs … Ranked second in the Sun Belt with his 32 touchbacks and fourth in the Sun Belt in average kickoff distance … App State ranked 24th nationally in kickoff efficiency.

High School: Ranked the No. 1 Class of 2021 kicker in the state of West Virginia and the No. 13 kicker in the nation by 247Sports.com … Finished career with 13 made field goals and 118 extra points … As a senior, made a long field goal of 47 yards against Woodrow Wilson, had touchbacks on 21 of 25 kickoffs, converted all 18 extra points and had six punts downed inside the 20 … First-team 3-A all-state selection as a senior and junior (as a punter) … All-Mountain State Athletic Conference and All-Kanawha Valley recognition from the Charleston Gazette-Mail as a senior … Mid-Ohio Valley High School Football Awards Outstanding Kicker nominee for players in both West Virginia and Ohio … Attends George Washington High School, the alma mater of App State head coach and former long snapper Shawn Clark … As a junior, made four field goals, converted 33 of 34 extra points and had 20 touchbacks … As a sophomore, made four field goals, converted 41 of 43 extra points and had a game-winning field goal as time expired in a 39-36 win against Riverside … Coached by Steve Edwards at George Washington … Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com.