Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Walter Wells has some advice for all the young ladies out there.
"If you could hear Cody Hughes play the guitar you will fall in love with him."
And while Wells took time to brag on Hughes' love for playing the guitar, Hughes passion for the game of football often had him hearing from coaches that he needed to tone things down, play within the confines of the whistle and play smarter.
Looking back, Hughes believes he's accomplished what was asked of him early on.
"For me being six-foot, nothing and having no offers out of high school to where I am today, it's night and day," Hughes said. "I'm blessed. The lord has given me a lot of opportunities to excel."
Hughes arrived at WKU from Lakewood Ranch High School in Bradenton, Fla. He played for coach Josh Hunter, who in turn connected Hughes with WKU thanks to Hunter's connection with Wells from Wells having coached Hunter while at Eastern Kentucky.
"They've got identical personalities, identical philosophies on football about physicality and physical toughness," Hughes said.
Wells said that it was a no-brainer to recruit Hughes after seeing his high school film.
But as a walk-on at WKU, Hughes came in with plenty of challenges ahead of him once he got to the Hill.
"I wanted to get a scholarship," Hughes said. "I walked-on from the state of Florida and it's a pretty long way to come on a whim, just hoping. I had a lot of passion. I was definitely very passionate about the game of football."
Coach David Elson said that Hughes' obvious strengths are his work ethic and toughness.
"He's well respected because he's worked so hard and throughout his career here," Elson said. "Early on, he was a guy we had to get on because he was a guy that over did it. He was one of those that we constantly had to harp on to play smarter. And he made that transition."
Hughes finished with 86 percent grade in 2006 after making 37 pancake blocks. The next season, things got even better for Hughes. He had a career-high 21 pancake blocks in WKU's victory over Morehead State. He also led the team with 144 knockdown blocks and earned a 90 percent overall grade.
Hughes once again started all 12 games for the Hilltoppers, recording 41 pancake blocks.
I think he brings an attitude," Elson said. "That's the other thing, when I say work ethic and toughness; he brings that in there. It's just a mentality and attitude you want your offensive line to have. He's got it and when he's in there we're better off. I think when guys see him pancaking a guy 15 yards down the field, that's something that gets other guys going."
With Wells having to devote attention to being offensive coordinator, it has left Hughes with a unique leadership role with the offensive line.
"He's the guy with the most experience and the most game starts," Wells said. "It's been very good for me, being this is my first year as offensive coordinator he can answer some of the guys' questions."
Hughes said he tries to portray to the other guys what is expected out on the field.
"I understand what (Wells) expects from us," Hughes said. "I understand what he wants before we come out here. I understand the mentality we have to have coming into practice and if we don't, we're going to be miserable."
Hughes and junior offensive lineman Preston King have a friendly competition of growing facial hair out. Hughes has a generous full beard, while King has a long goatee.
Hughes hopes that his leadership and influence can continue after he leaves WKU.
"Sports and athletics and the values and the philosophies it teaches you are a huge part of my life since I was a child, it was something I wanted to stay in," Hughes said.
Hughes said his biggest goal is to be strength and conditioning goals, but also wants to be in a position to influence younger people.
"I just want to be in a position where I can influence the character of individuals," Hughes said. "And not just the task they perform but what's inside of them and the morals, values and how they treat people. I think coaches have the best opportunity to do that."
Hughes has his own influences in addition to coaches. He said his uncle Mike turned him on to the idea of playing guitar at the age of five.
"It's something I'm very passionate about," Hughes said. "It's something that's a great stress reliever. I'm big about getting better every day and its something that I can go into my room and sit down by myself and just devote all my energy to playing a note as perfect as I can."
