Derek Barnett

Early life

Barnett attended Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee. As a senior, he had 60 tackles (18 for loss) and 5.5 sacks. He was rated by the Rivals.com recruiting network as a four-star recruit. In 2013, he committed to the University of Tennessee to play college football under head coach Butch Jones.

2014 season

Barnett became the first true freshman defensive lineman to start the season opener in Tennessee history. In the season opener against Utah State at Neyland Stadium, Barnett had three total tackles in the home victory. In the following week against Arkansas State, he had his first career collegiate sack in the home victory. In Barnett's first game against a conference opponent, he totaled eight tackles against Georgia in a loss at Sanford Stadium in the annual rivalry game. Against the Chattanooga Mocs, he had his first career collegiate fumble recovery in the home victory. Against Ole Miss, he had his first multi-sack game of his collegiate career with 2.0 in the road loss at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium. In addition, he recorded ten total tackles. On November 1, against South Carolina, Barnett had a season-high three sacks to go along with five total tackles in the overtime win at Williams-Brice Stadium. Barnett would be an instrumental asset for the Volunteers in making a bowl game for the first time since the 2010 season. In the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl against Iowa, Barnett had three total tackles in the 45–28 victory at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida.

Overall, Barnett played in all 13 games and made 10 starts in the 2014 season. He finished the season with school true freshman records of 10 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss. Both Barnett and Myles Garrett, of Texas A&M broke Jadeveon Clowney's SEC freshman sack record, which had previously been 8.0.

2015 season

Barnett started the 2015 season with a four-tackle performance against Bowling Green at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. In the home opener against the Oklahoma Sooners, Barnett had a career day with 15 total tackles, of which 1.5 was for loss, and one sack in the 2OT loss to the Sooners. Against Western Carolina, he had a forced fumble in the home victory over the Catamounts. Against Georgia at Neyland Stadium, Barnett had seven total tackles and a sack in the Volunteers's first win over the Bulldogs in several years. Against Alabama in their annual rivalry game, Barnett recorded a sack against the eventual National Champions at Bryant–Denny Stadium in a narrow 19–14 loss. In the following week against Kentucky, Barnett had his first multi-sack game of the season with two against the Wildcats in the road victory at Commonwealth Stadium. On November 28, against Vanderbilt, Barnett recorded two sacks in the home victory over their in-state rival. In 2016 Outback Bowl against Northwestern, Barnett had eight total tackles and a sack in the 45–6 victory at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

2016 season

Barnett started his junior season with a seven-tackle performance in an overtime home victory over Appalachian State. In the 2016 Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol against Virginia Tech at Bristol Motor Speedway, he had one tackle in the highly anticipated neutral site game. In the annual rivalry game against SEC East rival Florida at Neyland Stadium, Barnett had five total tackles and two sacks in the Volunteers's first victory over the Gators since 2004. Against Georgia at Sanford Stadium, Barnett had five total tackles and two sacks for the second straight game, and in addition, recorded a crucial forced fumble, off of quarterback Jacob Eason, that was recovered by teammate Corey Vereen for a defensive touchdown. Against Texas A&M at Kyle Field, Barnett had six total tackles and a sack in the Volunteers' first loss of the season. Against Alabama the following week, Barnett had three total tackles, a sack, and an interception off of quarterback Jalen Hurts in the Volunteers' 49–10 home loss. Two weeks later, Barnett recorded three sacks against South Carolina. In the last three games of the regular season, which were against Kentucky at home, Missouri at home, and Vanderbilt on the road at Vanderbilt Stadium, Barnett would record one sack in each game. Tennessee finished with an 8–4 record and appeared in a bowl game at the end of the season.

On December 30, 2016, in the 2016 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium, Barnett broke the University of Tennessee career sack record of 32.0, which was formerly held by Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL team that eventually drafted Barnett. In the bowl game, Barnett recorded six total tackles and a sack, which was the record-breaker. After the season, Barnett decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2017 NFL draft.