David Hughes

David Augustus Hughes III (born June 1, 1959) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Boise State Broncos and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL) in the second round of the 1981 NFL draft. He spent the first five season of his NFL career with the Seahawks (1981–1985) and the final one with the Pittsburgh Steelers. As a fullback, he was primarily a blocker, gaining just over 1,000 yards in his professional career.

Early life The son of David Hughes Jr. and Dorothy (Kim-Kruetter) Hughes, Hughes was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised in Kailua, on the windward side of Oahu. He has two sisters (Debbie and Diane) and one brother (Dean). When Hughes was eleven, his father died.

Hughes said his father's death had an impact. "I fell away from my family," said Hughes. "In junior high and high school I got involved with drugs and alcohol. I thought I was pretty cool. But inside I was very unhappy."

Hughes attended the Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu and graduated in 1977. He was a standout athlete at Kamehameha, receiving letters in football, basketball, and track. In football, Hughes was a member of three consecutive Oahu Prep Bowl and Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship teams. As a senior in the fall of 1976, he was named football offensive player of the year for the state of Hawaii.

Boise State Hughes played college football at Boise State from 1977 to 1980, starting at fullback all four years and tallying 1,826 rushing yards (5.2 yards per carry). As a sophomore in 1978, he was named to the All Big Sky Conference first-team, and also received honorable mention on the AP Division II All-America team.

Hughes, quarterback Joe Aliotti, and halfbacks Cedric Minter and Terry Zahner were christened Boise's "Four Horsemen," and the quartet played key roles as seniors on the Broncos team that won the NCAA Division I-AA title in 1980. Minter and Hughes were also chosen to play in the 1980 East–West Shrine Game. Hughes is a member of the Boise State University Athletics Hall of Fame and in 2005 was named the first-team fullback on the Boise State Bronco 35 team, which honored the top BSU football players from 1970 to 2005.

NFL career In the 1981 NFL draft, Hughes was picked in the second round (31st overall) by the Seattle Seahawks. He was a member of the 1983 team that made it to the NFL playoffs for the first time in franchise history. He was second on the team in rushing that season with 327 yards. In his six years in the NFL, Hughes totaled 1,041 yards rushing, 864 yards receiving, and 663 yards in kickoff returns. He has seven career touchdowns. While playing for Pittsburgh in 1986, a knee injury ended his playing career.

After football In 1983, Hughes met Kalua Kaiahua from Napili and had a spiritual experience where there was an "opening the doors of faith in God".

Personal life While a senior at Boise State University, Hughes married Holly Ann Mahealani Haleamau on February 14, 1981. They have five children: Lahela, Kela, Keoni, Kaniela, and I`okepa.