Jimbo Fisher compliments spring standouts Avery Hughes, Anthony Lucas

Spring football can create practice legends. Guys who are raved about behind closed doors or who make a spectacular play or two in the spring game to give their name all the buzz heading into the summer. For Texas A&M, one of those players is walk-on Avery Hughes, a six-foot sophomore safety from Sugar Land, Texas.

Hughes caught the eye of every A&M fan, coach and fellow player during the 2022 installment of the spring game. Hughes picked off two passes in the spring game, including one that he returned for a touchdown. Have a day, young man.

Following the game, Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher answered questions about Hughes surprising play. Fisher was so giddy about the walk-on’s performance he cut off the dude asking the question to say, “Yeah, he made two plays today. Got a really nice opportunity to make two plays and did a really nice job. Really did, happy for him.”

Not sure if this one performance is a fluke for Avery Hughes or whether it’s the start of a breakout sophomore season. But Fisher definitely liked what he saw. Could be a name to monitor among the Aggie secondary come fall.

Fisher on Anthony Lucas

Fisher also had positive things to say about blue-chip freshman Anthony Lucas, the 42nd-ranked player in the On3 consensus and a five-star on some services. The true freshman defensive lineman definitely showed flashes, according to Fisher.

“He has an opportunity to be a very good player for us and help us immediately in my opinion. Long, athletic, can pass rush. As he keeps getting the schemes down and techniques down I think he’s got a chance to be a really, really good player. And he flashes at you. He’s long and athletic.”

Lucas was the crown jewel out of Arizona as the state’s No. 1 ranked player in the 2022 class. Part of the historic haul for Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies as they secured the top-ranked class on the On3 team rankings. By the sound of it, that class is already making its mark on the field. Starting with the contributions of early-enrollee Anthony Lucas.