Tennessee players celebrate their win over Kentucky at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014. The Volunteers won over the Wildcats with a final score of 50-16.KNOXVILLE - As if one reminder wasn't enough, Derek Barnett got another one as his time at the podium Saturday evening following Tennessee's 50-16 rout of Kentucky at Neyland Stadium.
The Volunteers' fantastic freshman, in addition to four more tackles for loss, added two sacks to his account to give him nine for the season. That's one more than Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 pick in May's NFL draft, had as a freshman at South Carolina in 2011.
"That's pretty cool, I think," Barnett said sheepishly. "I just play football, and I just have fun. I don't get caught up into the stats and stuff. I think football's fun, so I'm going to keep on playing it."
The four-star recruit out of the Nashville area has been a revelation for Tennessee's defense this season, and he's made a bigger impact that anyone could have expected.
"I knew we had some freshmen that's going to make an impact, but honestly, I don't think nobody could really foresee the production that he's been playing with," defensive end/linebacker Curt Maggitt said. "He's getting better game after game, and he's consistent.
"I respect him and I like playing with him. I couldn't tell you I saw that coming. I'd be lying."
Barnett, who already holds the Tennessee freshman records for sacks and tackles for loss, is now eighth on the program's single-season tackles-for-loss list -- seven from the top spot held by Leonard Little, who had 25 in 1995.
"It's a great illustration for players in this state. You need to stay at home and represent your home institution," Vols coach Butch Jones said. "Derek Barnett is one of those individuals (who) keeps getting better and better. He's been nicked up, he's been bruised up and he just keeps coming."
Surging sack total
Five sacks Saturday give the Vols 29 for the season. It's Tennessee's highest tally since 33 in 2005. Tennessee had only 18 sacks all of last season.
"In the offseason, I noticed with our D-linemen, that we could move a lot better than in the past," said Maggitt, who second on the team behind Barnett with eight sacks after he had two Saturday. "I think that's where it starts at. It's (also) the competitive spirit up front."
Randolph ejected
Tennessee safety Brian Randolph, who returned an interception 23 yards for a first-quarter touchdown, was ejected for targeting early in the third quarter when he hit Patrick Towles helmet to helmet as the Kentucky quarterback slid at the end of a 12-yard scramble.
It will cost the Vols one of their most valuable defenders the first half of next week's game against Missouri.
"It's a point of contention this year," Jones said. "It's a point of emphasis, but unfortunately, you're trying to play hard and the quarterback's going down to slide. I'll look at it, and if there's an appeal process (we'll appeal it).
"It's a young man trying to play hard. I understand it's all about protecting the quarterback, and I support that. I'll have to see the video more."
Freshman Todd Kelly, who's played sparingly on defense since September, finished the game and likely would start in Randolph's place next week as well.
"I already knew he probably was going to get ejected," nickel cornerback Justin Coleman said, "but I kind of told him, 'You were just trying to make a play and doing what you do, making big hits.' He's been doing that all game. You could tell he really wanted to hit the quarterback, which is what the coaches have been telling us through the bye week.
"He ended up hitting him too high, I guess."
Randolph's pick-six in the first quarter was Tennessee's first defensive touchdown since Jacques Smith returned an interception for a touchdown against Auburn last season.
Crowder hurt
Tennessee lost starting center Mack Crowder to an apparent left leg injury midway through the third quarter. The fourth-year junior left the field on crutches. Dylan Wiesman finished the game and could slide into the starting lineup if the injury to Crowder turns out to be serious.
"Mack's been an individual who's continued to improve and improve and improve," Jones said. "I don't know right now exactly where he's at health-wise. Obviously I'll know a little bit more tonight and into tomorrow.
"He's been a grinder."
Former Bradley Central High School standout Austin Sanders also left the field with an injury in the fourth quarter.
Tennessee tidbits
Jones said earlier in the week the Vols expected to have Derrell Scott (thumb) available for the game, but the freshman tailback did not dress. ... Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley made the first start of his season Saturday to become the 10th true freshman to start for Tennessee this season. Only Tulane (12) has started more in Division I. Alex Ellis and Daniel Helm both started as Tennessee opened the game in a two-tight-end set. ... Tennessee recorded its fourth sellout of the season -- Utah State, Florida and Alabama were the others -- on Saturday, something the program hadn't done since 2007. ... The Vols lost the opening coin toss for the 15th time in 16 games, not including the lost tosses in overtime against South Carolina two weeks ago and against Georgia last season.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com