This just in: Brandon Hughes is okay.
The Beavers tested the might of Idaho en route to a flawless victory Saturday and showed that Hughes might prove to be the kick from Lu Kang that this team needed. Too much Mortal Kombat? My Bad.
There are three truths to life: death, taxes, and that number 36 will always blanket opponents. Yeah, it was just Idaho, but you could see it in his swagger, you could see it in his face and you could see it as he lined up on opposing receivers: Hughes was ready to play and ready to dominate.
Hughes has been recovering from a knee injury he received after colliding with linebacker Derrick Doggett in practice on Aug. 17. Few corners get lower to the ground than Hughes, and, with the knee injury, it was going to be interesting to see if it affected his ability to backpedal and turn mid-stride. 
It didn’t.
Hughes looked good in his return against the Vandals, and if his on-field performance didn’t prove that he was healthy, then the huge smile he had while walking into the locker room did.
“I felt good, it was nice to get the first game jitters out, even though it doesn’t feel like I’ve been gone,” he said after the game.
Avid Beaver football fans felt his absence. And for those who didn’t, they noticed a difference in his return Saturday. While Hughes has been out, opposing quarterbacks have been relatively successful, completing 20-for-40 passes in two games. In Hughes’ return, Idaho was a dismal 8-for-23 passing. He used his speed to shut down Idaho receivers and shot down chances of catching a ball like my chances of catching a date this weekend. Yes, Brittany Cahoon, I’m still waiting.
Hughes’ speed wasn’t the only notable thing; on many plays Hughes was even seen getting physical with receivers at the line and winning the battle. He was able to get the first-game jitters out while simultaneously shutting down an entire side of the Idaho offense. Of all the completed passes, only one was completed in front of Hughes.
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