Josh Malone
Coming off easily his best season of his Tennessee career, Josh Malone’s stock has never been higher in college. Right now, Malone has 45 catches for 852 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 10 scores are the most in a single season by a Vol since Robert Meachem had 11 in 2006, and he’s more than doubled his total receptions and yards in his career in this season alone.
This is the first year Malone has finally lived up to his potential, and he’s put together an extremely solid season. He’s fifth in the SEC in receiving yards, tied for second in touchdown receptions, and second in yards per catch. Throw in the fact that this year’s receiving crop isn’t all that deep for the 2017 draft, and Malone’s stock should be fairly high.
All the uncertainty around the Vols program as a whole should be enough for Malone to heavily consider leaving early. But add in the the fact that the offensive scheme for next season is unknown, and it might be in Malone’s best interest to leave early.
Probability: Moderate
My Take: I think it might be the better decision for Malone to leave early. Yes, he’d be the No. 1 target in an offense that could end up being a lot more pass-heavy next season, but Malone also watched guys like Cam Sutton and Jalen Reeves-Maybin return this past season for their senior years, get hurt, and damage their draft stock. It’s a weak receiver class, and he’s put together the best season of his career. If he gets a decent grade, I say go for it.
