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Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11

Derek Barnett ties Reggie White for Vols’ career sacks record

Tennessee's Derek Barnett (right) and Justin Martin (left) team up for a sack of South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley in the first half of their college football game. The Gamecocks beat the Vols 24-21 at Williams-Brice Stadium on Oct. 29, 2016.
Tennessee's Derek Barnett (right) and Justin Martin (left) team up for a sack of South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley in the first half of their college football game. The Gamecocks beat the Vols 24-21 at Williams-Brice Stadium on Oct. 29, 2016. Tennessee's Derek Barnett (right) and Justin Martin (left) team up for a sack of South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley in the first half of their college football game. The Gamecocks beat the Vols 24-21 at Williams-Brice Stadium on Oct. 29, 2016.

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.