Meet the Detroit Lions wideout who’s also a registered nurse

Detroit, MI - In between playing football and earning All-America honors on the track, Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Hughes got a nursing degree during his college days at Alcorn State. Other than the multiple classes, long days of practice, longer hours studying, three weekly eight-hour shifts at the hospital and the 70-mile roundtrip he had to make between nursing school and the football field, it was a breeze.

The NFL hopeful kept his nursing degree active during three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars by taking continuing education courses. In his 2009 rookie season, he had five catches and one touchdown in his rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hughes spent last season on injured reserve before getting signed as a roster longshot by the Lions.



During this summer's lockout, Hughes took a job as an on-call nurse in his hometown of Macon, Miss. He plans to go to anesthesiology school whenever his football career ends.

READ MORE

Detroit land ex-Jaguars linebacker Justin Durant (Hampton U.)

Justin Durant, Detroit Lions 

Detroit, MI - Their front four is one of the best in the game. Now the Detroit Lions are on their way to upgrading their back seven.

The Lions made their first significant move of the free-agent signing period late Wednesday, agreeing to terms on a two-year contract with linebacker Justin Durant (Hampton University), according to a team source.

Reached by phone shortly before 11 p.m., Durant's agent, Adisa Bakari said, "Not yet. Deal's not done." But Bakari and the Lions were heavy in contract talks late into the night. Durant, who played four seasons for the Jacksonville Jaguars, appeared to confirm the signing, first reported by the Chicago Tribune, on Twitter.

Now everybody from the 313, put ya (...) hands up and follow me!!!" he wrote.

Durant, who turns 26 in September, has never played a full 16 games in a season and missed six games last year with a groin injury.

READ MORE

Stillman College/Detroit Lions DT Sammie Lee Hill Beating The Sophomore Slump

Former Stillman College and current Detroit Lions defensive tackle, Sammie Lee Hill (6'-4", 331 lbs., 5.20/40 yard dash), joins four other Tigers on NFL or CFL rosters.

Somewhere during the process of researching prospective players for selection in the NFL draft, the research has a way of revealing players to whom we gravitate for one reason or another. My research during the prelude to the 2009 NFL draft helped me discover a larger-than-life figure who had NFL-caliber defensive tackle size with enough athleticism to play “shut-down defensive end” for a small college in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The history of the former Stillman Institute is a fascinating read. From a small school steeped in roots with the Presbyterian Church comes a young man who Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham took under his wing to ensure the best possible transition for a homesick Sammie Lee. The information on Sammie Lee Hill from his NFL Combine profile is an intriguing read.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/sammie-lee-hill?id=79571

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Grambling State's James 'Shack' Harris hired as senior exec with Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions General Manager Martin Mayhew announced today the hiring of James Harris as Senior Personnel Executive. He will assist Mayhew with the day-to-day management of the player personnel department, and he will assist in the player evaluation process for college and pro talent. Terms of his contract were not disclosed. Harris joins the Lions player personnel department after spending the past six seasons (2003-08) as the Jacksonville Jaguars vice president of player personnel. While directing the Jaguars player personnel area, he oversaw all player acquisitions, including: college draft, free agency, undrafted player signings and the scouting of players in other professional leagues.

Known affectionately as "Shack," Harris brings 34 years of NFL experience to the Lions' front office, with the past 22 years working in player personnel and scouting. Harris originally began his front office career in 1987 when he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a scout, a position he would hold for six years (1987-92). He then moved on to the New York Jets and served as the team's assistant general manager from 1993-96. In 1997, Harris was named the director of pro personnel for the Baltimore Ravens. He was a member of the Ravens' player personnel department from 1997-2002, and he earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens as the team claimed a world championship with a victory in Super Bowl XXXV.

CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.