Saskatchewan Roughriders’ rookie kicker Michael Hughes has been working to accomplish his pro football goal for a while.
“The last ten years. I started in eighth grade back home, middle school, and I wanted to play professional ball. I didn’t know what sport, I was playing three sports at the time, moving forward in life, you feel you have a thing for it and you can do it at the next level,” Hughes said. “Then, you get to college, you have a great career, and that’s the only thing that you can do is treat it day-by-day. Ever since I’d say probably 10th or 11th grade, I’ve been like, ‘I want to do this for a long time and have a long career.'”
The other sports Hughes played growing up, besides football, were basketball, baseball, and soccer. Eventually, he made a decision and explained why he chose football as his main focus.
“The adrenaline, the rush, the team, it was completely different for me, it was a brand new challenge. Every single thing that you do in football culminates in a larger goal, that’s why I say you have to take it day-by-day,” Hughes said. “Every time I get there for a rep, it’s the same kick every time, but it’s a different scenario, a different situation every time. You really have to treat it one rep at a time. A lot of guys, they get caught up in, ‘I missed this kick in the first quarter.’ Well, that kick’s over with, it’s only your next kick, that’s your best ball at hand. I try to treat every rep the same and go attack the day.”
Collegiately, Hughes spent four years at Appalachian State University from 2021 to 2024, he is the Mountaineers all-time leader in field goal percentage at 83.3. Following his NCAA career, Hughes made the trip north of the border and signed with the Riders on October 7.
“Crazy four weeks. I was in San Diego training on the West Coast and I’m from the East Coast. I’m in San Diego training, I went back home for a day or two, worked out, and kicked a little bit. Then I went down and watched my former college team play. Sunday at midday, I got a call from my agent saying, ‘The Riders want to bring you up and work you out. They’re looking to bring a guy in for the rest of the year,'” Hughes explained.
“I told him I was interested. About an hour later, I got a call, and we booked a flight on that next Monday morning. I drove four hours North back home, got about three-and-a-half hours sleep, got on a plane, and three flights later, I was here the next morning. I woke up, had a workout at 7 a.m., and around 8:30 to 9 a.m., I was in a team meeting. So a very, very quick turnaround, but that’s the business side of this sport, and that’s what you expect.”
Besides Hughes, there was another kicker at the tryout. The 22-year-old explained he got a text to go see Riders’ general manager Jeremy O’Day in his office to find out if he made the team.
“I went into J.O.’s office and he was awesome. He was like, ‘Hey, man, we appreciate you coming all the way up here. We want you to be a part of the team, and we’re going to sign you,'” Hughes explained. “I was super excited. I mean, first contract, so it was special.”
When it comes to learning from veteran kicker Brett Lauther, Hughes knows his knowledge is priceless.
“Him being a 12-year veteran, I’ve leaned on him a lot over the last two or three weeks that I’ve been here. Seeing how he moves on a day-to-day basis and also how he treats every single rep. I am my own person, but there are key pieces that I’ve taken from him over the last three weeks that have been super beneficial for me, already being here in Canada, rules changes and the way the game is played. Certain things like that and also, ‘Hey, the wind’s going to come this way nine times out of ten.’ Those kinds of things.” Hughes explained. “I’m still my own kicker and I’m going to rely on what I know, what I’m capable of doing and trusting myself, but Brett has been super special for me.”
In the last game for the Riders in the 2025 regular season, Hughes had a chance to start against the B.C. Lions because Lauther was out with a back injury. He finished the game making two field goals, and two extra points. Also, he kicked off three times which totalled 228 yards — one went 90 yards for a rouge.
“It’s one of those things, they ended up taking a penalty on the extra point there, so we got the ball spotted a little bit up and we said, ‘Hey, drive it, kid.’ He’s got one of those big legs and he ripped her,” head coach Corey Mace said about Hughes’ rogue on the 620 CKRM Rider Broadcast Network. “So we ended up getting a single off that. It was excellent to see. Really happy the kid got an opportunity to go out there and swing it.”
Saskatchewan hosts the West Final at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday against the B.C. Lions. Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk and Wes Cates bring you the pre-game show at 2:30 p.m. Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder have the game call at 5:30 p.m. Listen or watch our extensive coverage on the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network.
