Tennessee-Martin defensive lineman Montori Hughes. Photo by Brian Carriveau of CheeseheadTV.com.

For a team that could use a player the size of Monti Hughes on their defense line, the Packers figure to have at least some interest in the Tennessee-Martin prospect eligible for this year's NFL Draft.

Unfortunately, he also has several off-the-field issues that need vetting before investing a draft choice into a player with possible character concerns.

To Hughes' credit, he's saying all the right things in the run-up to April's Draft.

When asked what he's telling NFL teams about the episodes that got him dismissed from the University of Tennessee, Hughes said, "They already know all the answers. Just be straight up and be honest with it. I've matured a lot, so I have nothing to hide. I've learned from those mistakes as a young guy and improving and being a better person as a man."

First Hughes was suspended from the Volunteers' 2010 regular-season finale and from team activities the following offseason for violating  team academic rules. Then he was involved in a dorm-room incident that led to his eventual dismissal in May of 2011, specifics of which have not been discussed either by the university or Hughes.

During his freshman and sophomore seasons at Tennessee, Hughes made a combined 37 tackles, 5.5 for a loss and one sack as an underclassman.

After leaving the Volunteers program, he was given the opportunity to play at FBS level Tennessee-Martin and became an impact player. In two years for the Skyhawks, Hughes made 61 tackles, 15 for a loss and five sacks.

Perhaps even more important than his on-field performance, Hughes has stayed out of trouble off it since playing for UT-Martin.

"I love playing football," said Hughes at the NFL Combine. "Not having football for the little time, couple months that I didn't have it, it really woke me up and humbled me a lot. Just getting an opportunity to go up and get back out there, Coach Jason Simpson gave me an opportunity to play for UT-Martin and just taking advantage of it, getting a second chance is always a blessing. I just wanted to capitalize and not mess that up for a second time."

Following his senior year, Hughes impressed at the postseason Raycom College Football All-Star Classic and, in turn, received an invitation to the prestigious Senior Bowl a week later despite fighting through an ankle injury.

At 6-4 and 329 lbs., Hughes has the size necessary to play in the Packers' 3-4 base defense, which could interest a team that got gashed versus the run on several occasions last season and was a mediocre at rushing the passer as well.

"I played in a 4-3 and a 3-4 for two years apiece," said Hughes. "I feel comfortable in either one, at nose at the 3-4, even at end a little bit at the 3-4. And at three-technique and at nose in a 4-3, so I feel pretty comfortable across the board. That's one of the pluses I do got."

With Ryan Pickett entering his 13th season in the NFL at 33 years old, the Packers have to start looking at replacements with the necessary size requirements on the defensive line.

Whether Hughes could play nose tackle at 329 lbs. or add any needed weight remains to be seen, but there are not many other prospects with Hughes' raw size in this year's draft class.

It's also worth noting that if the Packers were to select Hughes in just over a week's time, he would immediately become the tallest defensive lineman on the roster. With no player taller than 6-3, length is not something the Packers currently possess at the position.

Seeing as the Packers are already taking a chance on a defensive lineman with a checkered past in Johnny Jolly, they might be hesitant to take on another such risk at the same position.

But Hughes has size you can't coach. If he proves to teams that he's past the immaturity issues that have haunted his past, he may go as early as Day 2 of the Draft.

Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor of Cheesehead TV's "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].