Curt Maggitt gave his all to Tennessee for five years. He’s not going to attempt to extend that to a sixth year.
The redshirt senior defensive end/linebacker announced via Instagram on Sunday evening that he’ll be moving on from Tennessee, as opposed to applying to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. Maggitt missed two seasons of eligibility due to injury, making him eligible to apply for that sixth year which the NCAA reviews on a case-by-case basis.
Maggitt missed all of 2013 with a torn ACL and 10 games in 2015 with a hip injury. It was the year in between, 2014, that Maggitt broke out and made it on some NFL radars. Playing primarily defensive end in his first year in John Jancek’s 4-3 defense, Maggitt partnered with freshman DE Derek Barnett to form one of the best defensive end duos in the nation. Maggitt, who played primarily outside linebacker earlier in his career, racked up 48 tackles, 11 sacks and 15 TFLs in 2014 on his way to Second-Team All-SEC honors.
The 6-foot-4, 252-pound native of West Palm Beach, Fla., emerged as an emotional leader that season as well, carrying that role over in 2015, even while sidelined with the hip injury sustained in the first half against Oklahoma in Week 2 of 2015.
His injury history will certainly be a huge question mark in the draft process, but don’t count Maggitt out from getting a professional opportunity. When healthy, he proved to be one of the most versatile and talented defenders in the league.
Maggitt departs Tennessee with 141 tackles, 13.5 sacks 28.5 TFLs and four forced fumbles in 35 games.
