FSU Adds Ray Guy Semifinalist Daniel Hughes to Roster
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Florida State football has recently signed Australian punter Daniel Hughes from the transfer portal.
Hughes played for the New Mexico Lobos last season and has three years of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Hughes was a Ray Guy semifinalist in 2025 after starting 12 games for New Mexico. The 28-year-old was honorable mention All-Mountain West last season.
Hughes told Albuquerque’s KRQE 13 last year that he manifested winning the Ray Guy Award a year ago and got a tattoo of titular punter on his stomach.
“I know it sounds arrogant but if you’re not trying to be the best here, what’s the point?” said Hughes. “If you’re not trying to put up the best numbers possible and do all the team stuff, why bother?”
In 2025 Florida State had the No. 22 scoring offense in the nation scoring 33 points per game. While averaging six touchdowns a game, they only punted 28 times all season long. While 33 points a game might seem decent, it only equated to five wins last season.
Florida State lost 35 players to the transfer portal, including 2025 starting punter Mac Chiumento, who joined the Miami Hurricanes, their arch-rivals. Head coach Mike Norvell has brought in 24 players of his own, five were special teams players, including two punters (Carter Jula/UNLV).
In 2025 Hughes punted 41 times for 1,863 yards, with 13 punts being pinned inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He averaged 45.4 yards per punt and had 13 punts over fifty yards. The highlight of his season was a 64-yard punt against San Jose St. The Lobos ranked No.10 nationally with 43.02 net yards per punt.
In 2024 Hughes played junior college football for City College of San Francisco. In ten games he had 49 punts while averaging 37.3 yards per punt. He forced 13 fair catches and two touchbacks.
Hughes attended Mount Erin College in Melbourne Australia for high school, but did not play American football growing up. He played Australian football, which is a modified version of rugby (sometimes called footy). In 2021 and 2022 he played in the Victorian League for the Northern Bullants.
Hughes sold his construction company in Australia before moving to the United States. He currently has 49,000 Instagram followers and is profiting from Instagram through different NIL opportunities. He comes to Florida State with a 4.0 grade point average.
Hughes attended ProKick Australia, which trains Australian football players to adapt to the American football kicking style. They have been responsible for developing six current NFL starting punters.
Given his experience and prior success Hughes is the favorite in training camp to take the starting punter job.
Florida State started training camp on July 29 and will open its season against New Mexico State, Hughes’ old rival school, in its home opener on August 29.
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