Football 2014: Hughes in for the long-haul at East Jackson

COMMERCE -- Entering his second year at the helm of the East Jackson football program, Gary Hughes knows what it will take to become successful on the field: teaching his Eagles how to be a success in life.<br /> <br /> Things haven't been easy for Commerce High School's all-too-close neighbor in the last three years, as East Jackson has won just four games while going winless in 2012 and winning only the season opener in 2013.<br /> <br /> Turning the program around isn't a quick fix, luckily for the Eagles, Hughes is more than aware of that.<br /> <br /> "What I've tried to establish over the last 12 months since I took over (at East Jackson) is to build a total program, not just be a football coach three or four or five months out of the year," Hughes said. "We want this to be a year-round program where we hold guys accountable and make them understand that what we're doing is preparing them for football, yes, but also life.<br /> <br /> "I think that if I align the values it takes to be a successful person with football, then they'll be successful on the field because they're successful in general."<br /> <br /> A total of six starters return from last year's 1-9 team including quarterback Cody Hardwick, who didn't start the entire season but enough that he's counted on for his experience.<br /> <br /> "Cody has done a great job in the offseason of doing everything we've asked him to do," Hughes said. "Aside from that he's a good quarterback who runs well and is quick."<br /> <br /> With a returning quarterback and, according to Hughes, a bunch of viable linemen, it could be assumed that all is well offensively, but that isn't the case for East Jackson. There is a significant lack of depth at the skill positions.<br /> <br /> "That's my biggest fear right now is that we don't have a lot of running backs and wide receivers," Hughes said. "We've got some, but are they ready for Friday night? We've got eight kids to play both sides of the football, it's going to be a fine line with those guys.<br /> <br /> "We're deep this year at line, which is good, but you'd like to be able to have enough skill players where you can rest a few and let them refocus a bit and not play 85 plays a game."<br /> <br /> Defensively, the Eagles will rely on an experienced linebacker corps led by Michael Seagraves and Taylor Murphy along with defensive end Titus Wakefield.<br /> <br /> Hughes is hopeful that another potential key cog in linebacker Cody Parr will be able to return to the practice and playing field soon after a stress fracture developed in his back during the offseason.<br /> <br /> "We only have three starters returning each way," Hughes said, "but we have a good number of kids who played a lot last year."<br /> <br /> Experience in key positions and, according to Hughes, great leadership and work ethic from his team, could go a long way toward improvement for East Jackson despite the potential juggernaut that is Region 8-AAA.<br /> <br /> "I'm a little different breed," Hughes said. "I've always felt that guys need to understand that the future has got to play into their vision, whether that means they want to be successful football players, successful in life, they have to know that they've got to be willing to work at it."

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