Zy’Aire Hughes, Athlete, 6-1, 190, Fr.-HS, Paducah, Ky. (McCracken County) – A three-star recruit by all the major recruiting services …Can play multiple positions after seeing time at running back, quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back in high school … Concluded his prep career with an outstanding 4,914 passing yards with 46 touchdowns, 2,779 rushing yards with 53 touchdowns and 1,128 receiving yards on 89 receptions for another 10 scores … After playing quarterback and receiver most of his high school career, he moved to running back his senior season and was named the 2015 Purchase Area Player of the Year by the Paducah Sun … Compiled 1,170 rushing yards, 374 receiving yards and combined for 21 touchdowns in helping lead the Mustangs to a 10-3 record and a berth in the KHSAA Class 6A playoffs … Earned 2015 All-State honorable mention by the Courier-Journal … Fifth-highest scorer in the state as a senior, accounting for 128 points (17 TD runs, four receiving and one 2-point conversion) … Completed 172 of 294 passes for 2,446 yards and 23 scores with just eight interceptions as a sophomore quarterback … Also ran 116 times for 634 yards and 16 touchdowns … Coached by Shawn Jackson at McCracken County … Played his freshman season at Lone Oak High School before the McCracken County schools consolidated … For the Purple Flash, he was 81 of 130 passing for 1,253 yards and 14 scores in just five games … In addition, he ran 61 times for 390 yards and nine TDs … Chose Kentucky over Louisville and Purdue.

Coach Stoops on Hughes: “Zy’Aire is another great in-state addition for us. He is an explosive wide receiver with a great ability to change direction and make big plays. He will have a bright future in our program.”