Tennessee's Josh Malone to enter 2017 NFL Draft

Tennessee is losing its top receiver to the NFL, as Josh Malone is skipping his senior season to enter the 2017 draft.

"It was a real tough decision," Malone told Ryan Callahan of 247 Sports. "I had to weigh a lot of pros and cons and talk to my family about it, and I just made the best decision for me and my family."

Malone led the Volunteers, and ranked third in the SEC, with 972 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2016, a massive jump in production from a 2015 season that saw the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder finish with 405 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

With his departure, Tennessee will be without its top receiver and starting quarterback as Joshua Dobbs is graduating.

Earlier on Monday it was announced that offensive coordinator Mike DeBord is leaving the program for the same role with Indiana, a move that will certainly give the Volunteers a different look next season.