Derek Barnett a force in Vols' surging defensive line
Brandon Scherff was the No. 5 overall pick in the NFL draft.
Four months earlier, he had his helmet handed to him by freshman defensive end Derek Barnett in the TaxSlayer Bowl.
It's a sign of the times for Tennessee football. The Vols' defensive line had been a weak link for several years. Now it is growing into one of UT's strengths.
Barnett is a prime example of the talent uptick. In the bowl game, he outplayed Scherff, a consensus All-America from Iowa and the Outland Trophy winner as the nation's best lineman. At one point, Scherff had Barnett in a headlock to keep him out of the backfield.
It made you wonder if the Redskins watched tape of the TaxSlayer Bowl before investing such a high draft pick in Scherff.
After the bowl game, Barnett was asked about his plans for the offseason. He responded with two goals:
"Get stronger and get faster."
Sounds like a plan.
Barnett, who prepped at Brentwood Academy, did not participate in UT's spring practice after undergoing shoulder surgery but he is expected to be at full speed when the Vols gather for preseason practice.
His return, along with the arrival of freshmen like Kyle Phillips, Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle, should give the Vols their most talented defensive front in years. Danny O'Brien, Corey Vereen, LaTroy Lewis and Barnett all have starting experience and that doesn't include Curt Maggitt, who plays a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker position.
UT's defensive line quality and depth had dropped off dramatically. A program that offered up first-round draft picks John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth in the same year (2002) has had only five first-team All-SEC defensive linemen since.
On Derek Dooley's three-year watch, the Vols struggled to recruit difference-making defensive linemen. Only junior college transfer Daniel McCullers and 2014 senior Jordan Williams made real impacts. The Vols were easy pickings up front.
That's why Butch Jones has made it a position of emphasis. And the latest talent haul is a reflection of all that hard work.
Meanwhile, Barnett is coming off the best season ever by a freshman defensive lineman at UT. Let that sink in for a moment.
Over the years, the Vols have had 11 defensive linemen picked in the first round of the NFL draft. None of those — not Robert Ayers, not Todd Kelly, not even Reggie White — had anything close to the freshman season Barnett had.
White, the standard against which all UT defensive linemen are judged, did not crack the starting lineup until late in his freshman season in 1980. He had two sacks, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt as a freshman.
Frankly, the best season by a UT freshman defensive lineman prior to Barnett's performance last year was by Lee Otis Burton in 1978. Burton had 57 tackles that season and famously ran down Notre Dame's Vegas Ferguson from behind. Burton was later forced to give up football because of a medical condition.
As for Barnett, he made various Freshman All-America teams based on a season in which he had 10 sacks and another 20½ tackles for loss — more than doubling both previous UT freshman records.
But his impact went beyond mere stats. With Barnett's rare combination of size and speed, opposing offenses often used a tight end or a running back to help the tackle in pass-rush situations. That opened up rushing lanes for other UT defenders.
Assuming he stays healthy, Barnett could grow into a first-round draft pick. The way he played against an acclaimed offensive lineman like Scherff is the kind of thing that gets the attention of NFL scouts.
For now, though, Derek Barnett is focused on the college game. He's one of the reasons for increased optimism surrounding UT football.
David Climer's columns appear on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Reach him at 615-259-8020 and on Twitter @DavidClimer.