Vols’ 2014 Season In Review

Oct 11, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) rushes in for the sack on Chattanooga Mocs quarterback Jacob Huesman (14) during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive MVP — Derek Barnett

This one isn’t even close.

Derek Barnett’s freshman season was one of the greatest seasons a freshman has ever had at Tennessee.

The Nashville native set UT records for most sacks (10) and tackles for loss (20.5) by a freshman. Barnett finished fourth in the SEC in sacks and 16th in the NCAA.

But it wasn’t only Barnett’s eye-popping numbers that were so amazing. If you watched him play, you know the numbers were no fluke.

Barnett was always in the right place on defense. If a running back was about to beat the defenders to the edge, it was Barnett who was there to stop him. If a quarterback escaped the pocket, it was Barnett who was waiting on him.

Butch Jones continually praised Barnett’s football IQ throughout the season. And that wasn’t just coach talk. Barnett really is that smart.

It’s scary to think how good he could be next season.

Honorable Mention: 

Curt Maggitt and (as usual) Cam Sutton both had fantastic seasons as well for the Volunteers’ defense.

Maggitt returned to the field for the first time since 2012, this time as a defensive end.

The position switch worked to perfection.

It took Maggitt a bit to get going, but when he did — it was on.

The redshirt junior finished the season with 11 sacks (8 of those came in the final five games of the season) and 14 tackles for loss.

Cam Sutton also had another stellar season — even though he was inexplicably left off most of the season-ending “All-American” lists.

Anyone that watched Sutton play this season knows he was one of the best defensive backs in the SEC.

And most of the opposing coaches knew that as well, rarely throwing the sophomore’s way.