"Hughes, from Brampton, Ont., informed head coach Kelly Jeffrey just as training camp began that he would not return for a fourth season because of family concerns, leaving three rookies to fight it out for the job. Hughes ran for 616 yards, tops among all CIS quarterbacks, and his toughness on the ground keyed the team’s ability to throw.Without Hughes' mobility, and with rookie(s) taking snaps, Mount Allison really will be playing in Sackville this season.
"... The team also took a blow on the other side of the ball with defensive back Callan Exeter, who broke the single-season record for tackles in the AUS last year, also not back.
"Adding to any other trouble spots, the Mounties may have one of the ugliest schedules anywhere with a home-and-home with Saint Mary's followed by their first interlock visit to defending-champion Laval in October."
Related:
Mounties jolted; MVP quarterback Hughes not returning (Monty Mosher, Halifax Chronicle-Herald)
I really believed that Coach Jeffrey had one of the best recruiting season in years and I was really excited about the Mounties' chances this year for a 5-3 record. But now, I really don't see how they will even be able to earn one victory. I don't doubt that Hotchkiss is - or will be - a fine QB, but there is no way that Kelly Hughes can be replaced. I don't hesitate to say that he was probably in the top 2 or 3 all-round QBs in the entire CIS. I'm not as worried about the absence of Exeter (perhaps I should be) because they're fairly deep in the backfield. Boy, I really hope I'm wrong about the Mounties' chances this year.
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