BIOGRAPHY
Mike Hughes was born February 11, 1997 in New Bern, North Carolina. He is a cornerback in the National Football League.
Hughes attended New Bern High School, where he lettered in football, track & field, and basketball. Hughes played quarterback at New Bern. As a senior in 2014, Hughes passed for 1,263 yards and 10 touchdowns and also rushed for 1,355 yards and 22 more touchdowns, guiding his team to an undefeated season and an NCHSAA 4A state championship. He was named to the all-state team and played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. Hughes was ranked the No. 3 cornerback in North Carolina and committed to the University of North Carolina to play college football.
Hughes played one year at North Carolina in 2015. In October 2015, he was suspended along with M. J. Stewart, and was charged with misdemeanor assault charges from an altercation that had occurred earlier that month. He left the team after the season and transferred to Garden City Community College, where he spent a year.
In 2017, Hughes transferred to the University of Central Florida (UCF) and participated in UCF's undefeated national championship 2017 season. Hughes made headlines with his game-sealing 95-yard kickoff return in the November 24, 2017, War on I–4 game against the South Florida Bulls, with Orlando Sentinel writer Shannon Green remarking that the play saved the undefeated season for the Knights.
Hughes left UCF after one season, deciding to forgo his senior year and enter the 2018 NFL Draft.
Hughes entered the season as the Vikings top cornerback. He was placed on injured reserve on October 30, 2020. Hughes joined the Atlanta Falcons in 2023.
