Profiles In Terpage – A Countdown To The Football Season: Trenton Hughes
By petevolk
A recurring series where we will profile every player and coach on Maryland’s roster, counting down to kick-off against Miami. Thanks to OBNUG for the idea.
Today we profile one of two returning starters in the secondary.
Trenton Hughes, Senior (RS), Cornerback
Stats:
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 190
Ratings: Three stars by Rivals, #27 in state of Virginia and #50 athlete; three stars and #70 safety by Scout; three stars and #61 safety by ESPN, #42 cornerback in 2012 Draft Class by NflDraftScout
40-yard dash time: 4.4
High School Stats (senior year): 38 tackles (four for a loss), two interceptions (one for a touchdown), 40 carries for 523 yards and four touchdowns, one punt return for a touchdown
High School Stats (junior year): 60 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, eight pass breakups
College Stats (through three seasons): 49 tackles (34 solo), 0.5 sacks, one fumble forced, one interception, four kickoff returns for 57 yards
High School: Kempsville High School (Virginia Beach, Va.)
How’d He Get To College Park?
Hughes was a pretty highly-touted recruit coming out of Kempsville who excelled on both sides of the ball (although not at the same level as his younger brother). He starred on the track team, and was recruited by Maryland, Tennessee, South Carolina, NC State, Virginia Tech, and others, but eventually chose College Park. After redshirting his first year, he played sparingly on special teams in 2008 before being a valuable part of that unit with some reserve time at corner in 2009. This past year, he started opposite Cameron Chism at corner, and played fairly well.
Hughes was an All-Hampton Roads, All-Peninsula District, and an All-Gameday first team selection during his senior year of high school at the WR, DB and LB positions.
Nickname:
Trenton “Thunder” Hughes
Career Highlight:
That interception, which came on the goal-line during the fourth quarter of this year’s Florida International game.
Career Lowlight:
Not being able to translate that into even more interceptions.
Arbitrary Top Five List:
Top athletes from Kempsville High School:
1. J.R. Reid
2. D.J. Dozier
3. Steve Jolley
4. Trenton Hughes
5. Travis Hughes
Dream season:
Hughes establishes himself as the top corner on the team, picking off more than three passes while recording at least 40 tackles and holding off competition for his job.
Nightmare season:
Hughes struggles, and either Avery Graham or Dexter McDougle are very ready to take over for him.
2011 prospectus:
Trenton Hughes fits the mold of your prototypical Maryland secondary player – fast, strong, but hasn’t proven himself on the college level yet. Hughes hasn’t played poorly – he filled the role of starting corner admirably last year – but it wasn’t a standout performance that made you excited for more to come. The good news for Maryland fans is that there are a lot of talented guys fighting for the position opposite Cameron Chism, and that kind of competition usually brings out the best in players. That means that either Hughes, McDougle or Graham are going to break out of that pack and impress Todd Bradford enough to win the starting job. Or nobody breaks out and you end up with a rotation of guys playing under their ability. Anything’s possible, I guess. But the smart money is on Hughes holding the younger guys off and keeping his job as the second starting cornerback.
Up Next:
Our next player dressed up as the Old Spice Man for Halloween. The Look-A-Like section might have to make its triumphant return.