Fifth-year defensive end/linebacker Curt Maggitt has some options in front of him after missing all but two games in 2015 with a hip injury. The Florida native can apply to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility at Tennessee after missing two years during his collegiate career due to injury, he can enter the NFL Draft, or he may have a third option, according to Tennessee coach Butch Jones.

“If he ever decides he wants to be a coach, we’ll hire him here at Tennessee,” Jones said following practice on Saturday. “He brings so much to the table, his ability to communicate, his effectiveness in communication, he has the respect of our players – they listen to everything he says. He’s done a great job of mentoring. We talked about the progression of [freshman defensive end] Darell Taylor – Curt Maggitt has a lot to do with that because he’s coaching him on every snap.”

Maggitt has served as a de facto assistant defensive line coach this season after going down against Oklahoma this year.

The initial prognosis was that he would miss 8-10 weeks, several months later however, he hasn’t returned to the field and doesn’t look to be in any kind of position to play against Northwestern in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1.

But Maggitt, who has been an unquestioned leader on this team the past couple years, now has at least one more option in his future, though it seems most likely that he’ll want to continue playing football as long as he can before trying anything else. If and when he does enter the coaching profession, if Jones’ word is good, he’ll have a spot in Knoxville.