The Tennessee Volunteers had one of the youngest rosters in college football. During this past season, Tennessee started 11 freshmen from Jones’ top-5 2014 recruiting class. Of the Vols’ 71 players that appeared in their season opener, 32 were freshmen.

Tennessee had seven seniors start in 2014, but ended the regular season with just four. The Vols have produced at least one prospect in each NFL draft since 1962, but lack a clear-cut standout in this year’s talent pool.

This is a direct correlation of Tennessee’s recruiting struggles prior to Butch Jones’ hire in December 2012. The Vols are expected to sign their second consecutive top-5 class, but went through several years of less than stellar signees under former coach Derek Dooley.

Dooley’s last two classes ranked No. 14 and No. 20 overall, but saw several top prospects — including DeAnthony Arnett and Cameron Clear — leave the program, while others failed to live up to expectations.

There are, however, several players that could find NFL homes this spring. Curt Maggitt is the top potential Vols prospect for the upcoming draft should he declare before Jan. 15.

Maggitt led the Vols with 11 sacks and added 48 tackles, including 15 for loss. The redshirt junior returned to action after missing the entire 2013 season recovering from surgery and played through the only full season of his college career.

Maggitt has the ability to succeed at defensive end and outside linebacker, a trait he displayed as a hybrid at both positions in 2014. He provides the perfect compliment to a 3-4 defense in need of a pass rusher, despite spending the majority of his college career in a 4-3 scheme. Maggitt has the frame and speed to excel at both positions, but he has yet to announce whether he will return to Knoxville for or declare for the draft.

Seniors Justin Coleman and Jordan Williams could also garner interest from NFL teams. Coleman led the Vols with four interceptions and started in 33 consecutive games at cornerback, serving as the team’s primary nickel back in 2014.

Williams was the only Tennessee defensive lineman with (limited) prior starting experience. The senior played in all 12 games for the Vols in 2013, but made just three starts, before emerging as the Vols top defensive tackle in 2014.

Williams recorded 25 tackles, including four tackles for loss, two sacks and four pass break-ups. The 6-foot-5, 284-pound tackle suffered a broken wrist against Ole Miss, but played with a cast rather than miss playing time in his final season.

A.J. Johnson seemed like the most likely player to get drafted from Tennessee’s roster for the majority of the season. However, due to his current legal situation, the senior’s NFL future remains uncertain.