KNOXVILLE - Derek Barnett had to be patient against Kentucky on Saturday.
Tennessee's star defensive end came oh-so-close to adding to his Southeastern Conference-leading sacks total on multiple occasions, and his persistence was rewarded when he dropped Stephen Johnson for a loss early in the fourth quarter of the 49-36 win.
Barnett's 10th sack of the season gave him 30 for his career - remarkably, all but three have come in SEC games - and he's just two away from Reggie White's program record with regular-season games left against Missouri and Vanderbilt.
"I've just got to stay patient and just keep on working," Barnett said after the Volunteers moved to 7-3 and remained in the SEC East race with a 3-3 conference mark. "I'll go back and watch film. I need to fix my leverage some, but like I said, you've just got to keep grinding up front. It's tough. It's not easy, so I keep on working."
With opposing offenses taking whatever measures they can to keep him from laying into their quarterback, Barnett is having to work a little harder for his sacks. Rarely is he having to beat just the tackle, and often teams are lining up tight ends to his side or chipping him with a running back. His one-on-one opportunities are limited.
"Him and I just spoke about that, and I said, 'That's a great compliment,'" Vols coach Butch Jones said. "I know a couple of their coaches looked for him after the game, and I talked to him and I said that's a great compliment when they have to change their scheme or their protection for you, whether it's chipping with a tight end or a back or a double team.
"That lends itself for other individuals to create one-on-one matchups, and Corey Vereen did a good job as well. That's a compliment to Derek. I said, 'Every day you know that teams are game-planning for you.' What can I say about him? He works every day. I love him. He's the poster child for toughness in our football program."
On one of Corey Vereen's two sacks on Saturday, Kentucky had two offensive linemen and a tight end blocking Barnett.
"It can get a little frustrating, but you've just got to keep grinding," Barnett said. "Pass-rushing is difficult, so you just keep working to get home. It don't frustrate me when other people make plays, and Vereen was balling today. He had a great performance today. When my teammates are eating, it don't frustrate me."
Despite the win, Saturday's performance certainly was frustrating in multiple aspects for the Vols. Jones said he was "not pleased" with special teams after Tennessee couldn't get a kickoff return past the 20-yard line, allowed the Wildcats to recover an onside kick and mishandled a punt for a turnover.
The Vols further forged their undisciplined identity with two more turnovers and nine more penalties, and the injury list grew with the additions of center Dylan Wiesman and safety Todd Kelly Jr., the team's leading tackler.
Then there's the rushing defense, which allowed Kentucky to roll up 443 yards. The Vols currently rank 11th in the SEC and 102nd nationally against the run, surrendering 216.8 yards per game. Tennessee must get some things figured out defensively with Missouri, second in the SEC in total offense, coming to Knoxville as a two-touchdown underdog this week.
"They ran for a lot of yards," Barnett said of the Wildcats. "It's something we really need to get corrected this week and going forward. We can't play like that going forward."
Said Vereen: "We didn't play up to our standard in terms of rushing defense, so that was upsetting."
Another upsetting thought for Tennessee: Barnett, in the No. 3 spot on the Pro Football Focus 2017 NFL draft board, very likely will play his final game at Neyland Stadium against the Tigers, a fitting stage for him to match or break White's record.
"It's brought up when I'm doing media," he said. "I think about it when I'm here and y'all ask me those questions, but I really don't think about that. I just go out and try to improve every week. If I improve every week, I feel like everything will fall into place. As long as we're winning, that's what I'm worried about."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.