In his first season in the NFL, Derek Barnett has made an immediate contribution to the NFC Champions at defensive end. In what will be no surprise to Tennessee fans, Barnett’s Philadelphia teammates marvel at the workmanlike attitude of the young defender.

Barnett even made a key play in the NFC Championship Game to help send his team to the Super Bowl. The rookie helped kill a Minnesota drive that could have given the Vikings life by forcing a turnover via a strip sack. That should sound pretty familiar to Vol fans, who recently watched the school’s most prolific pass rusher terrorize SEC quarterbacks for three seasons.

During his Tuesday Super Bowl media availability, Eagles defender Fletcher Cox was asked to share his thoughts on Barnett’s rookie season.

“Ah, man. Derek Barnett is one of the greatest rookies I’ve ever been around,” Cox said. “He comes to work every day. He listens, he takes to coaching. I can tell this, he’s played since Day One the way he approaches every day to now, you don’t see the technic mistakes or mental errors from him.”

High praise considering Cox is one of Philadelphia’s most veteran players and the team’s best defensive end.

Check out video of Cox’s response, which was posted by Allan Bell Jr. of 247Sports: