Breakout:
Most sacks in Tennessee historyT-1. Derek Barnett 32T-1. Reggie White 323. Leonard Little 284. Jonathan Brown 255. Todd Kelly Sr. 22.5
NASHVILLE - Derek Barnett acknowledged it would be nice to reach the Tennessee school record for career sacks while playing in his hometown.
But, he said, he just wanted to help his team win at Vanderbilt, record or no record.
"If that's me getting a sack, then good," the junior defensive end said last week after UT beat Missouri last week. "Or if that's me just affecting the quarterback, getting no sacks and we still win, I'm fine with that."
The Brentwood Academy product and probable early-round pick in April's NFL Draft got the opposite of what he wanted on Saturday night.
Barnett tied Chattanooga native Reggie White's school record of 32 career sacks on the final play of the first half in UT's 45-34 loss to the Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium, just nine miles away from his high school stadium.
He ducked around the Vanderbilt right tackle and chased down quarterback Kyle Shurmur nine yards behind midfield for a loss of 11 before Shurmur could get off an end zone heave as the final seconds ticked off the second quarter clock.
"When I step on the field, I play to win," Barnett said after the game. "Records are records, you know what I'm saying. I don't play this game for records. I play this game to get victories with my teammates. That's why I play the game."
It was one of few highlights for UT's defense on the night, and instead of retreating immediately to the locker room to nurse their wounds, nearly all of UT's defense ran straight onto the field to congratulate Barnett on the milestone.
Barnett blew a kiss to the primarily orange-clad fans in the visitor's side stands before fellow defensive end LaTroy Lewis arrived to jump on Barnett's back, with several other teammates close behind.
Barnett remains in elite company nationally, too. Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett is the only active player with more career sacks (32.5). The NCAA record is 36, owned by Hau'oli Kikaha, who starred at Washington from 2010-14. That mark would be well within Barnett's reach if he chooses to return for his senior year.
Speculation has abounded that Barnett will likely forego his final season of college eligibility in favor of the draft, though he said after the Missouri game that he has not made a decision.
If he does skip his senior season, Barnett will have a bowl game to try and break his tie with White, a Hall of Famer who played for the Vols from 1980-83 before a lengthy NFL career. White attended The Howard School. Reggie White Boulevard on Chattanooga's southside is named for him. He died in 2004.
Barnett, who was among three UT players to visit Children's Hospital following the Woodmore Elementary School bus crash, made an impression on the coaching staff soon after arriving on UT's campus with his speed.
His teammates noticed also.
"It was ridiculous when he came in," senior defensive end Corey Vereen said earlier this month. "I knew there was something special about him. When he was just running in the summer, he was always at the top of his run group, and he was running with the running backs at times."
For the most part, however, the Vanderbilt offensive contained him effectively on Saturday while shredding a UT defense that has turned anemic the last three weeks.
He finished the night with two tackles (one for loss), three quarterback hurries, a pass breakup, one sack and a place in the record books overshadowed by the scoreboard's glaring lights.
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.