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Tennessee Football: 10 Vols Most Deserving of 2016 Postseason Recognition

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) hits Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) causing a fumble recovered by Tennessee for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) hits Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) causing a fumble recovered by Tennessee for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Corey Vereen (50) recovers a Georgia Bulldogs fumble in the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Corey Vereen (50) recovers a Georgia Bulldogs fumble in the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

We hear a lot of talk about another defensive end on the Vols, but Corey Vereen had an amazing run down the stretch of his senior season at defensive end that should have earned him All-SEC recognition.

A guy who was forced into the lineup as an edge rusher after Curt Maggitt’s injury in 2015, nobody has developed better than Vereen.

But it didn’t do so in the Coaches All-SEC, and he likely won’t receive any other recognition.

A valuable edge rusher, the Vols’ elite pass rusher in Derek Barnett could not have racked up his stats without Vereen commanding respect on the other side.

And he did just that with 35 tackles on the year. That included 10 and a half tackles for a loss and six sacks. The Tennessee football senior also broke up three passes, had four quarterback hurries, and recovered two fumbles.

One of those fumble recoveries was for a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs and became the difference in the Vols winning the game.

Vereen has done more than enough in his senior season to garner more recognition than he has been receiving, but he’s not getting it.

In Knoxville, however, he has done more than enough to earn the right to go out on a high note.

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