Daniel Hughes' first punt did its job, even if it wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing kick. On first glimpse, it looked like a shank.

But as it turned out the punt in Saturday’s season opener was very much by design, low and wobbly and traveling 41 yards from FSU's 37 to New Mexico State's 22 — with no return.

Florida State general manager John Garrett was asked about the special teams during the Q&A portion of his speech to the Tallahassee Quarterback Club on Tuesday. He explained Hughes' ability to launch different punts in a variety of situations but with a common goal of achieving a high net punt result.

"He has about a dozen different kicks," Garrett said, looking over at Hughes, who was in the Champions Club for the event. "Is that about right?"

"More," Hughes responded.

"There's some that spiral and go really far," Garrett said. "Some that go end over end. Some that helicopter about 12 feet off the ground, and those are all intentional. So I got a chuckle in the game. The first punt was one of those helicopter ones, and everybody went, 'Oh, boo.' "

Hughes has captivated FSU fans on social media with his photos and videos on Instagram (52,400 followers) and TikTok (26,700 followers), and he recently released a video blog of his first game at FSU on YouTube, too.

Garrett was at the Quarterback Club to give an update on FSU, and he did so just minutes before his brother Jason Garrett, the former Dallas Cowboys coach and current NBC Sports analyst, was the keynote speaker. The brothers had a chance to chat with Hughes before the event.

"Jason asked him, 'How do you do it? Have you been kicking your whole life?' " Garrett said. "And he said, 'Yeah, in Australia, we grow up kicking. You here in America grow up throwing.' It's the same thing."

Hughes' second punt went for 53 yards in the third quarter, rolling out of bounds and pinning New Mexico State at its own 11. It wasn't a busy night, but Hughes did his job with two punts for a 47-yard average — and most importantly no return yards, so the Seminoles enjoyed a 47-yard net punt average.

FSU special teams coordinator Adam Scheier drew laughs in the preseason when he remarked that he has a love of his wife, family and net punting. Saturday was a good start in that regard.

"He can make that ball do a bunch of things," Garrett said. "So there are times when we want to kick it low and away from the returner, so it bounces a long way, and so he won't return it. And it's about net yards."

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