Getting his first shot at the NFL with his hometown team has been a dream come true for
Gabe Hughes
, who made history when he signed with the Dolphins as a rookie free agent.
The tight end became the first player from Florida Tech to sign an NFL contract when he was among the undrafted free agents to join the Dolphins this spring. And if you’re not aware of the Division II program, you’re not alone.
“Probably every single person I’ve told that’s not from Central Florida asked me where it’s at, how long we’ve had football,” Hughes said. “I just tell them it’s near Orlando, on the beach, good place to be.”
As for how long Florida Tech has fielded a football team, the answer is three years, and Hughes was there from the start.
Hughes made his way to Florida Tech after beginning his collegiate career at Western Michigan, where he started two games as a freshman at 2012.
Moving to the Orlando school represented a homecoming of sorts for Hughes, who was born in Storm Lake, Iowa, but grew up in Lighthouse Point and attended Highland Christian High School.
“Basically the cold weather and I wanted to get close to family,” Hughes listed as his reasons for transferring to Florida Tech. “I lived in Fort Lauderdale my whole life growing up since I was 3 years old, so I wanted to get back in this warm weather. Luckily, I get an opportunity to play here in the NFL as well. I’m happy about that.”
Hughes has another piece of history from Florida Tech, with the two longest receptions in the program’s young history. He caught an 80-yard touchdown pass against Valdosta State in the 2014 season finale and did the same thing last season against West Alabama.
Hughes wasn’t invited to the scouting combine, but his athletic ability earned him a shot with the Dolphins.
While he says Adrian Peterson is his favorite NFL player, Hughes said he has paid special attention to Dolphins tight end
Jordan Cameron and compared his game to that of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
“I would say (I’m) a pass threat,” Hughes said. “I’m developing as a player obviously coming from a small school, but I can give you that deep threat on offense and move around, get open for the quarterback and help you in those ways.
