Sophomore Denzel Hughes has been a leader and key contributor at free safety for a veteran Neshaminy defense this season.
By Mary Jane Souder
Denzel Hughes, without fanfare, is having himself quite a season.
The Neshaminy sophomore stepped into the role of free safety when senior Cole Creighton was moved to linebacker at the start of the season, and he has excelled.
“He’s extremely quiet, very unassuming, but on the field, he really since day one has taken ownership of the secondary with the coverages and stuff,” coach Mark Schmidt said. “When we moved Cole Creighton from free safety to outside linebacker, that was a little bit of a concern, but Denzel jumped in and did an absolutely marvelous job. Every week he seems to be getting better and better.”
So far this season, he has five interceptions out of his free safety position, and Hughes, who also sees action at wide receiver, also has a pair of touchdown receptions.
“He’s just really playing well,” Schmidt said. “He’s got a great smile, a good kid. He’s a very hard worker. He shows up every day, works his tail off and does a great job.”
Hughes’ emergence as a standout in the secondary is hardly a surprise. Last year, after seeing action mainly with the jayvee, he found himself pressed into action for the varsity when Justin Andrews went down with an injury. He saw playing time in the Redskins’ district win over Central Bucks South and was in the starting lineup at wide receiver when Neshaminy faced eventual district champion Coatesville in the district semis.
“It was on a pretty big stage against some pretty darn good players, and he went out and battled and did a really good job and realized, ‘Wow, this is really something,’” Schmidt said. “He got in the weight room and worked his tail off and made himself a lot stronger, and he has really made a very good impact for us this year.”
Hughes admits it was unnerving to be thrust into the heat of battle as a freshman.
“It was definitely nerve-racking to make my first start against Coatesville, knowing they are very, very good and knowing as a freshman how much was on my shoulders having to catch and block,” Hughes said. “It was definitely a lot to think about, but the coaches really helped me out a lot, gave me easy calls and worked with me watching film.”
This year, when Hughes was named the starting free safety, he seized the opportunity.
“It was definitely big shoes to fill,” he said. “All of them welcomed me to the defense, and Cole Creighton has been helping me with the calls.
“Watching a lot of film has helped, and the coaches have helped me out with a lot of the calls. It was definitely hard getting adjusted at first, but after a while, I got used to it, and it really paid off.
Talk to Hughes, and it doesn’t take long to realize he’s a student of the game. Those five interceptions didn’t just happen.
“The key is just watching a lot of film,” he said. “Most of the stuff they run out there on the field is the same exact stuff they show on film.
“They show almost the same exact plays and the same exact motions. We watch film every day, and that helps a lot.”
Under the tutelage of defensive backs coach Jay Weidenbaugh, Hughes has assumed a leadership role in the ‘Skins secondary.
“He makes sure we’re in the coverages based on what people do,” Schmidt said. “He gets us lined up and does a lot of that stuff. He’s really showing a lot. I’m very proud of him.”
One of just three sophomores in the Redskins’ starting lineup, Hughes acknowledged that the Redskins’ loss to Pennsbury in the regular season finale with an SOL National Conference on the line was a reminder to stay focused.
“That definitely hit us hard,” he said of the loss. “We practice how we play. That week we didn’t have a great week of practice. We were off rhythm, and it showed up on the field that we can’t practice poorly and expect to go out there and be able to play at the same level we’ve been playing the rest of the season.”
The Redskins bounced back from their loss from Pennsbury to earn three straight lopsided wins in the District One 4A playoffs. A game against North Penn in the district title game is on the horizon on Friday.
“It’s been great,” Hughes said. “It’s definitely been the funnest year of football I have played ever because the seniors give leadership, and they really own the team.
“It’s just been fun being out there and being able to play with all these guys. A lot of them have been starting for two or three years, so it’s very easy and fun.”
Making the journey even more enjoyable have been the ever-present Redskin fans.
“It’s definitely a big part of playing at home that I love,” Hughes said. “Our ‘skin boys – every time there’s a big play you hear them call it out. Everything is great about the fans. The fans are what motivate the team.”
And in a season that has seen the Redskins emerge as one of the district’s best,
Hughes has quietly been making an impact.
“Sometimes the stage gets kind of big for a young guy, and he kind of gets a little bit wide eyed,” Schmidt said. “That’s been the case one or twice this year. I think he’s learned from that. We’ve talked about it, and you can definitely tell when he’s apprehensive and when he’s feeling confident. He’s one of those guys you can just talk to. You don’t have to yell at a guy like him. He doesn’t need that. He just needs to get his nose pointed in the right direction and he goes and gets it.”
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