2. Derek Barnett
It’s hard to follow a potential record-setter. Unless you’re also a potential record-setter yourself.
In his two seasons with the Vols, defensive end Derek Barnett has recorded 10 sacks in each season. He’s also totaled 33 tackles for loss in those two seasons, making him one of the premier defensive ends in the SEC.
And Barnett’s 20 career sacks has him tantalizingly close to at least tying Tennessee’s all-time mark.
Barnett needs just 12 sacks to tie and 13 to surpass Reggie White’s mark of 32 sacks with Tennessee. And given Barnett’s numbers in his first two seasons, that mark is certainly attainable.
As a former four-star recruit, Barnett was just outside the top 200 players in the country in the 2014 class. He’s well out-performed his ranking and has been one of Tennessee’s best defenders under Butch Jones.
