Doing a task halfway has never been a characteristic of Jeff Hughley's. He watched the determination and drive of his mother, who served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years, and it molded him into the man he has become. With a huge support system, he took what he learned from his mother and applied it to sports and life.  

"My mom taught me to be dedicated and to hard work. She taught me the importance of always trying to go all out and trying to be the best," Hughley said. In doing so, he became one of the most notable student-athletes in Averett University history and will be one of four members of the 2016 Averett Athletics Hall of Fame Class, which will be inducted Saturday during a ceremony as part of Averett's Homecoming festivities.

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Hughley played football from 2003-2006 as a wide receiver and return specialist for the Cougars. He ended his collegiate career with 2,925 career reception yards, 221 career receptions and 31 receiving touchdowns, all of which are program records. He was a part of the Cougars' 2006 Conference Championship team, and his performance on the field made him a shoe-in for several accolades throughout his tenure at Averett.
 
Hughley earned USA South All-Conference First Team honors three years as a receiver and two years as a return specialist. On top of that, he garnered all-state honors three times as well. He also received Averett's 2006 Dr. Frank R. Campbell Sportsmanship Award and the 2007 Dr. Tommy Foster Male Student-Athlete of the Year award.

After completing his senior season, Hughley knew he wanted to follow his dreams of playing ball professionally, so during winter break, he and a teammate drove to Nashville to participate in an open tryout for the Arena Football League.

"We figured it wouldn't hurt if we tried," he said.

And it certainly didn't hurt him at all. In fact, his courage opened a window of opportunity that paved the way for the next few years of his life.

A bit later, a scout called him, saying that he wanted Hughley to play. There was only one issue. Hughley wasn't scheduled to graduate until May, and the team wanted to sign him in March because that's when training starts for the league. Despite the obstacle, he didn't let it stop him. Instead, he found a way around it and still graduated on time with a degree in athletic training.

"I talked to my family, and I got my research and final papers done early in February, so I could start training in March. It was a rough month getting all that done," Hughley said.

It all paid off as he found success at the professional level.

He started out on a high-note as he was named Ironman of the Year of the AFL's development league in his rookie season. After moving up to the AFL, Hughley was selected to the All-Ironman Team, comprised of standout multi-position players, for three consecutive seasons. During his time with his hometown squad, the Jacksonville Sharks, he helped the team capture its first Arena Bowl title in franchise history in 2011.

Hughley was named the J. Lewis Small Ironman of the Year as a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Soul the following season, finishing with 77 receptions for 1,001 yards and 19 touchdowns. In his stint with the Soul, he also set single-season franchise records with 1,865 kickoff return yards and 1,882 combined kick return yards.        

"Arena football was great," he said. "It was different from regular ball because the field is smaller, but it gave me the opportunity to make things happen."

Hughley noted that one aspect that made playing professionally a great experience was the sense of camaraderie he felt with his teammates, the exact feeling he had during his time at Averett.
 
"The best thing about Averett was the people. That's what made it enjoyable," Hughley said, which has seemed to be the same sentiment of many Hall of Fame inductees over the years. "With my teammates, we lived together, we worked out together, and we struggled together. We really became family."

Playing under then-head coach Mike Dunlevy, Hughley also remembered how several coaches served as great mentors for him and inspired him to enhance his game to higher level. The same coaches led his team to Averett's sole conference championship in 2006 and helped hone Hughley's skills. All this combined with his relentless work ethic put him in the position he's in today.  

"I feel honored after all these years. It's a privilege and a blessing to be recognized," Hughley said.

While Hughley has accomplished plenty in his collegiate and professional career, he possesses other talents as well, including drawing with an excellent attention to detail. Because of that, he now works as a welder.

"I liked drawing since the seventh grade, and welding is a form of art to me. I like to get an assignment and grind and work. I have a lot of goals that I'm still driving for," he said. "You're never too old to learn things."

Hughley currently lives in Arkansas and has a son, Jamari.