In the small town of Minneola, Florida with a population of just under 14,000, many of the stellar athletes from the area go unnoticed & unheard of. That is the case for Quarterback Jackson Hughes. Hughes is what many would describe as a late bloomer. The star field general for the Lake Minneola Hawks did not start at the varsity level until his senior season. After transferring from East Ridge, Hughes was finally given the opportunity to command an offense for the Hawks. Luckily for Lake Minneola, Jackson made the most of the opportunity. 

Jackson was electric for Lake Minneola, breaking multiple school records. The signal caller passed for 3773 yards and 37 touchdowns, both records for the Hawks. With Hughes under center, Lake Minneola finished the season 10-4. Not only did Jackson put up numbers individually, he made those around him better, allowing his team to find success. Jackson’s journey to being a top 10 passer in the state and a school record holder was certainly not an easy one. After waiting for an opportunity to start, Hughes ultimately decided to transfer schools entering his final season. Both on and off the field this affected Jackson’s relationships. The talented passer stated that the hardest part of entering a new team was “losing all the past 

relationships I had with my former teammates and coaches, and having to come into a school and try to build new relationships with everyone and develop a mutual trust.” 

The field general did not allow the struggles that come with a change of scenery to stop him from getting to work. Hughes was immediately preparing to lead the Hawks to a successful season. When asked about what he did off the field to find success on it, the star pocket passer answered “going to camps and competing with the best, training like every rep is a game rep, and watching film on how to read defenses and make the right reads.” This degree of hardwork and dedication to his craft are why Hughes was able to shine all year in an emphatic finish to his highschool career. 

Entering a new environment wasn’t the only challenge Jackson faced this season. His dominant senior campaign did not start as well as it finished. Through their first three games the Hawks were 1-2 and Hughes was struggling to find consistency as the team’s quarterback. The teammates that Jackson had worked so hard with to earn their trust were beginning to doubt him. Jackson described the early struggles by stating that the biggest challenge he faced this year was “the adversity me and the team went through in the first three games of the season, having the same amount of touchdowns and interceptions, and losing the trust of many on and off the team.” This adversity did not stop Hughes from turning things around and leading the Hawks to a 9-2 record in their next eleven games. However, Jackson did not orchestrate this turnaround alone, ‘26 OL Chancellor Barclay and Citadel Commit Braylon Knauth were also key components in the Hawks success. Lake Minneola’s resurgence was only possible once Jackson and his teammates were able to gain a mutual trust for each other, and once they did they elevated each other and showed what they were capable of. It’s safe to say that by the time the Hawks were done playing football, there wasn’t a single person on the team who could doubt Jackson as a quarterback, or a leader. 

Recently, Hughes chose to take his talents to Florida Atlantic University to further his football career. Playing division one football is often not a reality for athletes who do not see the field until their later high school years, but in Jackson’s case the gunslinger defied all odds and made his dreams come true. In just one year as a starter he was able to lead his team to a 10-4 record, become a school record holder and a top 10 passer in Florida, and overcome adversity both on and off the field. As Jackson continues his career at FAU the Owls will be getting a talented athlete and an even better person. One of the best things about Jackson is that he’s just getting started. His first season as a starter was a massive success and with his hardwork and love for the game, the sky’s the limit moving forward.