Tennessee Football: Former Volunteers Players to Watch for at 2016 NFL Combine

Next year will be the beginning of Tennessee football's real return to replenishing the NFL with Volunteers, but when the NFL Scouting Combine kicks off this week, a couple of players with Big Orange pedigrees will try to impress the attendees.

Defensive end/linebacker Curt Maggitt and wide receiver Marquez North will be in Indianapolis on Feb. 23-29 to show off for the coaches, general managers and everyone else.

The ultimate goal is to improve a draft stock that is iffy—at best—for both.

Yahoo! NFL football writer and investigative reporter Charles Robinson recently tweeted that this year's Vol haul may be a bit light in the combine, but the future won't be.

According to WalterFootball.com, Maggitt is the 20th-rated outside linebacker in the draft, which would put him getting drafted anywhere between the fifth and seventh rounds. Following an injury-riddled career, Maggitt could have applied for a sixth year of eligibility and had a strong case, but he elected to turn pro.

North's declaration to leave early was much more puzzling. 

The 6'4", 224-pound pass-catcher had one more season on Rocky Top, but he instead chose to turn pro despite catching just six passes for 58 yards in an injury-riddled finale. WalterFootball.com rates him as the 27th-best receiver in the draft, which would put him getting drafted between the fourth and sixth rounds.

Yet, neither Bleacher Report's Matt Miller nor DraftSite.com have either player getting selected in their latest mock drafts. 

Maggitt and North each showed flashes of brilliance in Knoxville, but their careers were highlighted by much more promise than production.

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For Maggitt, his career is inexorably tied to that of former fellow UT linebacker A.J. Johnson. Though the two remain extremely close friends, the recent link to Johnson probably isn't doing Maggitt any favors.

Johnson is set to stand trial for rape this summer, and Maggitt was recently named in a lawsuit that alleged he assaulted former teammate Drae Bowles, who assisted the alleged rape victim, according to the Tennessean's Matt Slovin.

Considering how strong and exemplary Maggitt's character and leadership were during his time at Tennessee—even in times where he was sidelined with his two season-ending injuries—he hopes that resume and his references speak for themselves.

The 6'3", 246-pound defender already has a lot to prove on the field without character questions. 

Not only has he struggled to remain healthy, he also is a bit of a "tweener," who is too small to play on the defensive line but may be too big for the second level. He has to prove that he can find a home as a pass-rusher in the league. 

Once Maggitt regained his health in 2014, he was a terror off the edge, leading the Vols with 11 sacks to go along with his 15 tackles for a loss.  But he hurt his hip early in his senior season and never returned.

North, similarly, dealt with injury after injury after bursting onto the scene with plays such as a 48-yard grab against South Carolina as a true freshman that set up a game-winning field goal to upset the Gamecocks and give Butch Jones his first big win with the Vols.

He, too, began to show signs of living up to his elite potential early in '14, but he tore his labrum, missed the second half of the season and got hurt in the preseason before last year. Once he returned, he was hit in the back while trying to catch a pass behind him against Florida and was never the same.

Now, Maggitt and North will both try to put up-and-down careers with the Vols behind them and make it on the next level. This week is a pivotal step.

For Maggitt, it's going to be all about showing he's healthy and explosive. If he can't, he'll have to battle his way up from signing a free-agent contract.

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein noted Maggitt's football character and uncanny leadership, but he lamented his "limited" range and burst, and injury-laden career hampering his sample size. 

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One of the most passionate players in this draft. Maggitt plays the game with reckless abandon, which can work for and against him. The team who takes him will get a player whose motor never turns off and who will give you all he's got, but his range is below average for an outside linebacker and he may be too mechanical to post consistent production as a pass rusher. All of these points are moot if his combine medicals don't come up roses.

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North also has to pass the medical part of the combine to give potential drafters a peace of mind. If he doesn't, it's hard to believe anybody would take a flier on him.

But, if someone does, North has massive upside. He is a physical specimen, has the athleticism and speed to stretch the field, strong hands and the height and ability go up and get passes.

The NFL Network's Ben Fennell wants to see North perform this week because, much like Maggitt, there's just not enough college film to make any concrete determinations. GoVols247's Wes Rucker tweeted that it's obvious why North will get this week's extended look:

Can a change of scenery jolt him into realizing his potential? That's a question that won't be answered this week, but if he's healthy, his freakish physical prowess may just cause several teams to fall in love with his potential.

He should have stayed another year in Knoxville, but all it takes is one team taking a chance on him to make his declaration a good decision.

Last season, cornerback Justin Coleman was the only Vol invited to the combine, and he wasn't drafted, although he did wind up with a strong rookie season with New England. North and Maggitt will try to break the Vol-less draft streak.

They need a strong week to do it.

All quotes and information gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. All individual stats gathered from UTSports.com unless otherwise noted.

Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee lead writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.