KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Derek Barnett's right leg slightly bounces up and down as he sits in a soft, leather chair inside Tennessee's illustrious Peyton Manning Room. Surrounded by pictures and dedications to one of the football program's most accomplished and beloved players, Barnett can't help but distance himself from a legend.
In Barnett's eyes, he could be better. In two seasons of work, he hasn't quite been good enough to soak in the Manning surroundings.
OK, maybe that's a little extreme. After all, the 6-foot-3, 257-pound sophomore defensive end has recorded 20 sacks, 33 tackles for loss and 141 tackles in only two seasons of work.