Brandon Hughes, WR

A two-time second-team All-Pac-10 selection, Hughes paired with Keenan Lewis to give the Beavers arguably the top cornerback duo in the conference. Hughes signed with Oregon State as a receiver but moved to cornerback and started 40 games for the Beavers over his career. Confrontational at the line of scrimmage, Hughes relies on his initial pop with the receiver to hold up. He lacks the foot speed and quickness to turn and run with receivers with rare speed. Scouts noted how he struggled at the East-West Shrine Game in off-man coverage, but for bump-and-run teams looking for help on the second day, Hughes' consistency makes sense.

Positives: Good initial pop at the line of scrimmage. … Good body lean into the receiver as he runs the route with him. … Competes for the pass well. … Doesn't back down to the challenge of bigger receivers. … Peeks at the quarterback and has a late burst to close downhill. … Long arms and quick hands to break up the pass. … Willing in run support. … Can elude blockers in space, but also is willing to take them on to get to the ballcarrier. … Effective open-field tackler who wraps up securely. … Consistent. … Four-year starter.

Negatives: Lacks elite straight-line speed. … Burst downhill not seen when beaten over the top. … Lacks the late burst to recover if beaten off the snap. … Came to Oregon State as a receiver, but moved to cornerback for a reason -- stone hands with only three interceptions out of 36 career pass breakups. … Protected a bit by an aggressive OSU pass rush and an experienced secondary.

Pac-10 Second Team honors after making 12 pass breakups, tied for fifth in the league … his 57 tackles marked the fifth-highest total on the team, including seven tackles for loss … started all 13 games … in on three of the biggest tackles for not only 2007, but in Beaver history in upset win at No. 2 Cal - assisted (Greg Laybourn) on the Bears' 4th-and-goal from 1-yard line late in the third quarter stopping running back Justin Forsett … also in on assists on the same drive on Forsett rushes on 1st-and-goal from the two and 2nd-and-goal from the one.

Brandon started 12 games at cornerback, missing the first two due to an injury … 35 tackles for the season, including a career-high seven vs. Washington State … also had six against Oregon … forced a fumble vs. Hawai'i … registered four pass breakups, including two in the win over No. 3 USC … recovered a fumble (forced by Daniel Drayton) against Oregon that led to an OSU 7-0 lead.

Hughes started seven games at right cornerback … made his first start against Arizona State … nine pass breakups, second on the team … sixth-highest total on the team for tackles with 41, including nine vs. Stanford and seven vs. Washington State … broke up three passes against the Cougars and California … also played special teams.

Redshirt.

Hughes scored 11 touchdowns as a wide receiver for a team that went 13-1 and was the state's 6A runner-up … Lettered three years and started two for head coach Rigo Schmelzer … Also played defensive back for the Purple Raiders … Caught 20 passes for 688 yards as a senior … Caught 34 passes for 1,008 yards and 16 touchdowns for his career … A member of the All-Big 12 Conference first team as a senior … Played in the Shrine All-Star game … a standout in track in the 400, where he won the Intercity meet Championship as a sophomore and junior … Finished fourth in the Illinois State Championships.

Son of Robert Hughes and Ceneta Brooks … Has seven brothers and sisters … A reporter for the OSU student newspaper The Daily Barometer … Also is the editor of a religion based on-campus newsletter … The Promise … Majoring in speech communication.