With 13 sacks this season, Tennessee DE Derek Barnett became the school’s all-time sacks leader with 33, besting the previous mark of 32 set by the legendary Reggie White.

Now, Barnett will forgo his senior season with the Volunteers to try his hand in the NFL. However, many question whether Barnett’s college dominance will transfer to the next level.

According to an AFC North scout quoted in NFL.com’s story on Barnett, many NFL squads question whether Barnett has the physical profile to play at a high level in the pros:

“(Derek) Barnett generates a lot of discussion out on the road. He’s physical and he’s got great production, but some scouts just don’t think he’ll be able to translate those numbers to the pros because he’s not very explosive off the ball. He won’t overpower NFL tackles like he did in college.”

What that anonymous scout failed to take into consideration was that the SEC is already full of players who will go on to be top NFL offensive linemen. Barnett recorded a sack while facing Alabama stars Cam Robinson and Jonah Williams and had two sacks against Florida’s offensive line that is full of NFL-level talent.

Also notable is the fact that, of Barnett’s 13 sacks, a grand total of zero came against non-power five schools Appalachian State, Ohio and Tennessee Tech. He picked up 12 of his sacks (including a season-high three vs. South Carolina) against SEC foes and added another in the Music City Bowl against Nebraska.

To compare, Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett, a favorite to be selected No. 1 overall in the upcoming NFL draft, recorded a whopping 4.5 of his 8.5 sacks against lowly UT-San Antonio.

Though Barnett may not turn into the NFL star Reggie White was back in the day, to completely write off the Volunteers’ all-time sacks leader is foolish. Whatever team gets him in the upcoming draft will be getting a hard worker with the talent to make an impact in the NFL.