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Tennessee Football 2016 Recap: Ranking the Top 10 Vols Performers of the Season

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 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) in action during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeat the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) in action during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeat the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

This one was obvious. Derek Barnett etched himself in Tennessee football history as the greatest defensive end ever.

After showing how great he was in two years with 10 sacks each year, the junior entered this season with high expectations. Could he really break Reggie White’s career sacks record at the school in just three years?

Well, with the Vols getting decimated at defensive tackle and linebackers due to injuries and teams with SEC offensive lines focusing on him, the task should have been nearly impossible.

It wasn’t.

Barnett, as always, saved his big plays for the big games.

He had two sacks in their win against the Florida Gators. Then he had two sacks, including a strip-sack that resulted in a fourth-quarter lead-changing touchdown, in their win over the Georgia Bulldogs.

Even in their three-game losing streak, he had five sacks, including single-handedly keeping them in the game with three sacks against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

All 12 of Barnett’s regular season sacks came in SEC games, as he tied the record against the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Then he had numerous hurries in the Music City Bowl against the Nebraska Cornhuskers and should’ve had two sacks, including a forced fumble. But the strip-sack was called back.

Still, with under five minutes to go, he got the sack to break the record in that game.

So Barnett was not just an amazing pass-rusher. He saved his pass-rushing antics for the biggest moments and always rose to the occasion, which is why he was a true All-American.

He finished the season with an amazing 56 total tackles, 40 of which were solo, 13 sacks, 19 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, five passes broken up, 16 hurries, and even an interception.

Barnett is the defensive MVP for the Vols and was the best Tennessee football player of 2016. Tennessee will miss him.

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