Monmouth College Athletics

At the professional level, Lawrence Taylor revolutionized the linebacker position in the 1980s. At Monmouth College, it was Dwayne Hughes who led the revolution.

The 6-foot-4, 245-pounder had a combination of speed (4.85 in the 40-yard dash) and strength (400-pound bench press, 700-pound squat lift) that had rarely been seen in the Midwest Conference to that point. Consequently, Hughes had little trouble shedding 270-pound opposing linemen, posting 97 tackles his senior season and earning second team Associated Press All-American honors. He led a Monmouth defense that yielded just 60 points in nine games, a mark second only to that year’s national champion. The most points scored in a game against the Scots that year was 16, and the defense allowed only six touchdowns all season. Monmouth’s 8-1 record was its best in more than a decade.

Hughes, who prepped at Georgetown High School, was named an All-MWC linebacker three consecutive years.