COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 29: Derek Barnett #9 of the Tennessee Volunteers tries to stop Jake Bentley #4 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 29, 2016 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Tennessee DE enters rarefied air with performance against South Carolina

He's a monster!

Tennessee has had some pretty great defensive players come through its doors like Robert Ayers, Reggie White, Shaun Ellis and Todd Kelly. Now there's another in Derek Barnett as he became the active leader in sacks in a career after his performance against South Carolina.

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Barnett set a program record for the most tackles-for-loss (20.5) and sacks (10.0) for a first-year player. Barnett then accrued 10.0 sacks last year as a sophomore. This season, he has 9.0 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and seven QB hurries. Even if Barnett decides to go into the NFL Draft early he will go down as one of the best Tennessee defenders in the school's history.

[h/t Saturday Down South]