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Tennessee Vols Defensive End Derek Barnett Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week; Lovingood Co-Special Teams Player of the Week
Tennessee football defensive end Derek Barnett and Vols snapper Riley Lovingood were named defensive and co-special teams players of the week respectively.
It was another week of recognition for Tennessee football players, starting with Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett.
Barnett was named the SEC’s Defensive player of the week for his play against the Georgia Bulldogs. He is coming off of his second straight game with two sacks. In this one, he also had a strip-sack for a defensive touchdown, plus another half tackle for a loss.
The junior dominated Georgia in the second half. He did exactly what Butch Jones and Bob Shoop hoped he would do for the Vols in Athens.
But this week, the SEC recognized two players from Tennessee.
Long-snapper Riley Lovingood joined Derek Barnett by winning the co-special teams player of the week award.
Lovingood made a key play late in the fourth quarter by snapping the ball to Trevor Daniel and then running downfield to catch it on the five-yard line.
That play pinned the Dawgs back and allowed for Barnett to get one of his sacks. That was the strip-sack that turned into a Vols touchdown.
So in a way, Lovingood’s play allowed Derek Barnett to become the SEC’s defensive player of the week.
Although Barnett’s play is no surprise, Lovingood’s recognition is. He is a freshman snapper, something that was actually a concern for the Vols earlier this year.
However, he has had no issues snapping on punts so far this year. And he made a key play that warrants this recognition.
Meanwhie, Barnett is simply always a beast in SEC games. He now has four sacks in his first two SEC games. And he’s only eight sacks away from Reggie White’s career record.
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