North, a junior wide receiver whose career began so promisingly before injuries started taking a toll, could transfer out of the Tennessee program or declare for the NFL Draft, but his plans remain unclear at the moment.
A 6-foot-3, 230-pound wideout from Charlotte, N.C., North was named a Freshman All-American in 2013 after collecting 496 yards and one touchdown on 38 catches. Expectations were high heading into his sophomore season, and rightfully so, but he collected just 320 yards and four touchdowns on 32 catches before missing the final three games with a torn shoulder labrum an injury that had bothered him dating back to his high-school career.
North, who also battled foot issues and a nasty bruise on his back in 2014, struggled even more in 2015, appearing in just seven games and collecting 58 yards on six catches and never looking close to 100 percent healthy.
Speculation has run rampant for a couple of months that North might leave the Tennessee program after this season, and his decision was made entirely of his own volition, according to multiple program sources.
It remains unclear whether North will declare for the NFL Draft or transfer to another college program. Many have suggested he will declare for the draft, but that hasnt been confirmed, and two program sources insisted they didnt know what the player would do.
North hasnt graduated from Tennessee, so transferring to an NCAA Division I FCS or Division II program would be the only way for him to be eligible for the 2016 season. He would have to redshirt in order to play for another NCAA Division I FBS program in 2016, but he does have a redshirt year available to him.