Daniel Hughes is your new favorite college football player. The 28-year-old punter at Florida State is covered in tattoos from head to toe and cut his hair into a bleached blonde mullet.
He rocks.
Although Hughes is classified as a redshirt junior, it is likely that he will receive an additional year of college football eligibility. That would mean that he will turn 31 before the start of his final (senior) season.
Who is Daniel Hughes?
At 6-foot-5, 238 pounds, Daniel Hughes only started to play American football in 2023. He grew up playing Aussie rules football as a native of Melbourne, Australia. His dream was to one day make it to the Australian Football League.
Hughes made it as far as the semi-pro level with the Northern Bullants of the Victorian Football League but never quite cracked the AFL. As a result, he decided to make a change in his mid-20s and followed the wave of Australian punters to Prokick Australia. The program is designed to train rugby and Aussie rules athletes (and some complete amateurs) into American football punters.
One thing led to another and Hughes was invited to punt for the City College of San Francisco. He punted 49 times for the Rams in 2024, averaging 37.3 yards per kick with a long of 62 yards. He landed 18 punts inside the 20 and forced 13 fair catches.
A strong year on the JUCO level gave Hughes an opportunity to move up. New Mexico brought him on for 2025.
“Honestly, I thought New Mexico was in Mexico and I didn’t even know Albuquerque was a place,” he said upon arrival.
Hughes ultimately won the starting job during training camp and proved to be one of the best punters in the entire country. However, the Lobos were so good on offense that he never really got the chance to kick.
The second-year punter averaged 45.4 yards per punt on 41 total punts. He pinned 13 punts inside the 20-yard-line and had 13 punts of at least 50 yards with a career-long of 64 yards at San Jose State. His leg earned him recognition as a Ray Guy Award semifinalist, given to the best punter in college football each season. It was an impressive FBS debut.
As a result of his strong season, Hughes received the opportunity to transfer up, again. He ultimately committed to Florida State.
Florida State has the coolest looking punter in college football.
Daniel Hughes recently turned 28. It is a weird age in general. It is even weirder for college football.
In addition to his impressive athletic career, Hughes has built a strong following on social media with more than 55,000 followers combined on TikTok and Instagram. Part of what makes his brand so alluring, beyond his age and accent, is his look.
Hughes is tatted from head to toe— except his arms (which I would imagine is coming next?). Even his ears are inked! He also sports a bleached blonde mullet that reaches his shoulders.
You are not going to find another player in college football who looks like Daniel Hughes. And he could be in Tallahassee for three more seasons if his eligibility shakes out as expected. JUCO years no longer count. He spent one season at UNM.
Regardless of how long he is allowed to play, Hughes is ready to let it rip in Tallahassee this fall.
Your new favorite college football player is the 28-year-old punter at Florida State. He rocks.