STARKVILLE — It’s likely no member of this year’s Mississippi State football team enjoyed the Bulldogs’ rise to the nation’s elite as much as safety Jay Hughes.
That’s because it was a season of redemption for Hughes, a fifth-year senior from Hattiesburg. Hughes missed all but six plays of his junior season and watched MSU’s fight for bowl eligibility from the sideline, only to return to lead the Bulldogs in interceptions and help lead MSU to 10 wins.
On Wednesday, Hughes learned he will be the face of the Southeastern Conference at a national NCAA convention. Hughes, along with two other SEC student-athletes, will represent the SEC on proposed governance rule changes under the NCAA’s recently adopted Division I autonomy process.
Hughes, Tennessee women’s basketball player Diamond DeShields, Florida baseball player Josh Tobias will represent the SEC as part of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Pacific-12, and SEC to “engage and empower student-athletes by giving them both a voice and vote within a transparent decision-making process.”
The hearings stem from an August decision where the NCAA Board of Directors voted to revisit how schools and conferences govern themselves, with the top five conferences being given a considerable say in the coming changes.
“It’s an honor to represent Mississippi State University and the Southeastern Conference in the NCAA decision-making process,” Hughes said. “Being a Mississippi State Bulldog has allowed me to earn my degree, play the game I love and now have a voice in a new era of college athletics.”
The new model grants flexibility to schools in the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC to change rules for themselves in a list of specific areas within Division I. The legislative process for these 65 schools includes three student-athlete representatives from each conference who will vote on rule changes. Voting on autonomy issues includes 15 student-athletes (three from each of the Five Conferences) who will cast votes in greater number than four of the five conferences.
“In development of the new autonomy structure, we emphasized the importance of student-athletes from the five conferences having both a voice and vote on NCAA matters,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said. “These three student-athletes will represent the SEC well and will help make some very important decisions in the weeks and months ahead.”
Hughes, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in history, finished tied for the team lead in interceptions with three. He also had one of three defensive touchdowns for the Bulldogs, a 70-yard blocked field goal return for a score in the season opener against Southern Mississippi.
Hughes was a team captain this season and a member of the SEC Community Service Team. His father, Tony, is the assistant head coach for the Bulldogs.
The three student-athletes will participate in their first NCAA convention in January in Washington, D.C.
Prescott a Manning Award finalist
The accolades continue to roll in for MSU quarterback Dak Prescott.
One day after being awarded the Conerly Trophy as the top college football player in the state of Mississippi, Prescott was named one of 11 national finalists for the Manning Award. The nomination was announced by the Sugar Bowl.
The Manning Award, in its 11th season, is given to the nation’s best quarterback. It is the only national quarterback award that takes a player’s bowl performance into account.
Already a finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award and the Maxwell Trophy, Prescott broke 10 individual school records this season. He has 38 total touchdowns and has accounted for more than 3,900 yards.
The Manning Award winner will be announced Jan. 14 following the inaugural College Football Playoff Championship Game. Prescott is the only five-time Manning Award National Quarterback of the Week this season.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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