Tennessee Volunteers

Report: Marquez North considering leaving for the draft

Published Jan. 13, 2016 6:31 p.m. ET

foxsports

The once promising college career of Tennessee junior receiver Marquez North may be at an end, as the Volunteers most imposing outside target is contemplating an early jump to the 2016 NFL Draft.

North only appeared in five games in 2015, catching six passes for 58 yards this season after dealing with a nagging back injury all year. During his three-year career on Rocky Top, North caught 74 passes for 874 yards and five touchdowns.

A North Carolina native, North came to Tennessee as the star of Butch Jones' first recruiting class as head coach of the Volunteers. A touted prospect, considered by 247Sports as a top 100 player nationally, North never fully developed into the elite No. 1 receiver Tennessee's coaching staff envisioned he could become.

While he may have never fully developed at Tennessee, North certainly had his share of highlight moments as a Volunteer.

Marquez North's Amazing one handed reception vs South Carolina #SCNeedToKnow #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/1hVgnb9XDi
— JTRIVERDELTA (@Russell77JT) October 20, 2013

During North's freshman year, his 39-yard catch against No. 11 South Carolina put Tennessee in position to win with a chip-shot field goal over Steve Spurrier's squad. The Vols converted the kick to win 23-21, giving Spurrier and South Carolina their second and final loss of 2013. Tennessee fans should be thankful for North for that reason alone, as the loss cost the Gamecocks a shot at the SEC and national title.