This Fresno State defensive back has a toothpick in his mouth. When did it begin?
Juju Hughes gets noticed for the plays he makes as a senior leader in the Fresno State defensive backfield.
And now, for the toothpick in his mouth while he’s on the field.
Yup, a toothpick.
Superstition? No, says Hughes.
Then what is it?
“It’s something I’ve been doing since my sophomore, junior year in high school” at Hanford. “Got my braces off and it’s just how I started doing it and it became my thing.”
He’s still doing it at Fresno State where the toothpick has been noticeable during spring practice. Don’t worry, he takes it out before any contact drills or play. But he grabs a new one once the physical action is done.
“It’s a part of who he is,” Fresno State secondary coach J.D. Williams said. ”First time I saw it, I didn’t think anything of it. Just thought he needed a toothpick, but over time, you see it everyday and I was like. ‘OK, that’s who he is.’“
Bulldogs linebacker Mykal Walker noticed the toothpick soon after he arrived from Azusa Pacific in 2017: “When you see a toothpick, that’s probably Juju.”
Hughes said people outside the program have finally noticed the toothpick, mostly because of a tweet.
Last season, Hughes was named All-Mountain West second team after starting all 14 games at strong safety and had four interceptions.
Anthony Galaviz: 559-441-6042, agalaviz_TheBee
This story was originally published April 1, 2019 at 4:00 AM.
