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The collegiate career of UTEP senior running back Treyvon Hughes involved a change in position, a season-ending injury and only 11 wins during his career, but the tough Carrollton, Texas native ended his last season and career as one of the most versatile and determined players to come through the UTEP program.
“It meant a lot to play here, and I’m thankful that the coaches gave me the opportunity because I played linebacker and running back here, so it meant a lot just to go out there and play,” Hughes said.
Hughes capped off his senior season with exceptional statistics across the board rushing for 682 yards, 12 touchdowns and 56 yards rushing per game, which were all team highs. The 6-foot-1 235-pound bruising running back’s 12 touchdowns ranked him second in Conference-USA and tied for 18th in the nation.
“I think what helps me a lot is just my physicality. I’m bigger than everybody so I could easily just run them over, and plus, our lineman played a big part in opening up holes for me,” Hughes said.
The senior back scored a touchdown in all but four games this season, scoring three against North Texas and recorded a career-high 144 rushing yards in the season-opening win versus Houston Baptist.
Coming out of Hebron High School, Hughes earned a three-star ranking by ESPN.com and was ranked 81st on the 2014 ESPN 300 Top Running Back List.
In his freshman season for UTEP, he began to scratch the surface of his undeniable potential playing in nine games as a true freshman rushing for 67 yards on the year.
The 2016 season involved a season-ending injury for Hughes. The injury was a severe setback but it provided him with a different mindset and a new position on the gridiron.
“Honestly, I hated going through that injury because it’s hard going out there and not playing while everybody is. Mentally it was tough one to go through,” Hughes said. “That was the year I wanted to switch to linebacker because I felt that would benefit me more and help my knee out.”
That switch did prove to be beneficial as Hughes played in all 12 games in the 2017 season, making six starts recording 40 tackles, with three of them versus Oklahoma, University of Texas at San Antonio and Louisiana Tech each and 11 versus Rice.
“The transition switching positions wasn’t too bad I just had to learn the plays and my assignments. I played linebacker back in high school, a little bit in my sophomore year, so that helped,” Hughes said.
Multiple doors are open for Hughes’s career post-UTEP and the future may involve a professional football career, or possibly a job in the management field, as the 2019 Conference-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection graduates this December with a master’s in leadership studies.
“First off, I’ll want to do Pro Day, after that it’s up for grabs. I want to work in any college athletic department or get a job in management,” Hughes said. “If I get a call from a team after Pro Day and they really want me, then I’ll go there and give it my all.”
Although his senior campaign included only one win, Hughes is appreciative of not only his senior season but his time spent here in El Paso and the time he spent with his teammates.
“This season wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be but, honestly, I love this team and I think we meshed together really well. I made a lot of brothers and lifelong friends and I’m thankful for that,” Hughes said. “I loved my time here in El Paso the people here are really friendly, and they welcomed me with open arms.”
Isaiah Ramirez may be reached at [email protected]
