For as great of a football program that UTM has, it’s rare to see any Skyhawks taken in any round of the NFL draft.
While some Skyhawks are signed post-draft as free agents, with the 2020 signing of wide receiver (WR) Jaylon Moore to the Baltimore Ravens being an example, NFL teams tend to save their draft capital for big-time prospects at elite schools.
The Skyhawks currently play in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), which resides in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of Division I football. Despite being in the NCAA’s top division, the FCS plays second fiddle to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), which is the top of the ladder in college football. Schools such as Alabama, Clemson, LSU and Ohio State reside here.
FCS players do sometimes get drafted by NFL teams and make it at the professional level. For example, current 49ers quarterback (QB) and two-time Super Bowl champion Jimmy Garropolo played for UTM’s conference rival Eastern Illinois and was taken in the second round of the 2014 draft.
However, UTM has had a couple of players taken in the NFL draft during its history. The most recent Skyhawk taken in the draft is defensive tackle (DT) Montori Hughes, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2013 draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
Hughes, who originally committed to play for the Tennessee Volunteers, was a standout player during his two years with the Skyhawks, being named First-team All-OVC in 2012. The DT entered the draft at 6-4 and weighing 239 pounds.
Hughes made his NFL debut in the 2013 season with the Colts. However, Hughes didn’t make much of an impact over his four games, accumulating six total tackles but no sacks or tackles-for-loss.
The former Skyhawk’s best statistical year came in 2014. Over 12 appearances, Hughes accumulated 12 total tackles and one tackle-for-loss. However, Hughes’ stint with Colts came to an end when he was waived by the team on September 5, 2015.
Following Indianapolis, Hughes was signed to the New York Giants practice squad only two days after being waived. On November 10, 2015, Hughes was promoted to the active roster.
Hughes recorded six total tackles and three tackles-for-loss in seven games in 2015. Hughes was released by the Giants on September 4, 2016, resigned by the team on September 13 and released for the final time on October 11, 2016.
Hughes would later sign reserve contracts with the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Redskins, but never played a game for either team. Hughes ended his NFL career with 25 appearances, one start, 23 total tackles and four tackles-for-loss.
Despite no longer being an NFL player, Hughes continued to play professional football elsewhere. Hughes joined the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) in 2019. However, the league ceased operations in April of 2019.
Hughes made one last stop with the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL, but was released on February 15, 2020.
Looking back on Hughes’ professional career, he didn’t amount to much at the NFL level, only ever starting one game. However, Hughes managed to carve out a multi-year career in the highest league of professional football and continued to pursue his football dreams after exiting the NFL.
Hughes’ career, although not a glamorous one, was an admirable one that Skyhawk fans can be proud of. Currently, Hughes is not signed to any professional roster.
Statistics used from Pro Football Reference.
