Vols’ Derek Barnett On All-Underrated Team

Tennessee fans are well aware that true freshman defensive end Derek Barnett is already a star.

Judging by the accolades that Barnett is piling up, the rest of the country is starting to realize that too.

But I’m not sure folks are really aware of just how good Barnett has been this season. Which makes it appropriate that he was recently included on NFL.com’s All-Underrated Team.

Here’s what NFL.com had to say about Barnett:

"Texas A&M’s Myles Garett is the SEC freshman who gets — rightfully so — a ton of attention, but Barnett has been just as deserving of all that same praise after one of the best campaigns in school history for the Vols. How many outside the SEC East know the stud defensive lineman is third in the country in tackles for loss? More should, that’s for sure."

Barnett, a former four-star recruit from Nashville, TN, finished the regular season of an incredible freshman campaign with 69 total tackles (45 solo, 20.5 for loss), 10 sacks and — for good measure — a fumble recovery.

Those would be incredible numbers for anyone in the SEC, let alone a true freshman.

I have a feeling Derek Barnett is going to be receiving a lot more attention from the national media outlets next season.

If he doesn’t, then Vol fans might actually have a legitimate reason to gripe about an “anti-Tennessee bias”.