University of Tennessee Athletics
Barnett, Dobbs Earn Weekly Honors for Bednarik, Maxwell
September 29, 2016 | Football
AMBLER, Pa. -- Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs has been named the Maxwell Award Player of the Week and UT defensive end Derek Barnett has been named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club on Thursday.
It is the first time in recent memory that the winners of both the Maxwell Award Player of the Week (best offensive player in the nation) and Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week (best defensive player in the nation) were from the same school.
Dobbs and Barnett led Tennessee to a thrilling 38-28 comeback win over Florida in Week 4, ending the Gators' 11-game winning streak in the series and tying for the third-largest comeback in UT history. Dobbs was also named SEC Offensive Player of the Week and earned a spot on the Davey O'Brien "Great 8." Barnett was also named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week and College Sports Madness SEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Dobbs was responsible for five touchdowns, completing 16 of 32 passes for a career-high 319 yards, a career-high four touchdowns and two interceptions and rushing for 80 yards and one score on 17 carries. He shined in the second half, going 9-for-12 for 235 yards, four touchdowns and one interception with nine carries for 41 yards and a score. After trailing 21-0 in the second quarter, Dobbs and the Tennessee offense scored 38-straight points to seize momentum from the Gators.
All four of his touchdown passes on Saturday were 20-yards or longer. His first was a 23-yard pass to Jalen Hurd that brought the Vols to within 21-10. His second was a 20-yard pass down the middle to Ethan Wolf that put the Vols within one score at 21-17. His third was a 67-yarder to Jauan Jennings down the right sideline that gave Tennessee a 24-21 lead. His fourth was a 42-yard strike to Josh Malone that extended the lead to 31-21.
Dobbs is now 18-5 in his last 23 games as Tennessee's starting quarterback and 18-8 overall in his career.
He now has 36 career touchdown passes, tying him with Jonathan Crompton (2006-09), Heath Schuler (1991-93) and Andy Kelly (1988-91) for fifth-most in Tennessee history.
Barnett enjoyed his best game of the season with five tackles (three solo), two sacks for six yards, three tackles for loss for eight yards and one pass breakup. He sparked Tennessee's second-half defense, which limited Florida to just one touchdown after halftime. His energy in the third quarter fueled the rest of the defense as the Gators managed just 102 yards in the second half. With the Vols up 38-28 in the fourth, Barnett also broke up a pass intended for Antonio Callaway on first down as the UT defense shut down the Gators one more time on their final possession.
Both of Barnett's sacks came at key moments. He recorded the 21st sack of his career, bringing Austin Appleby down for a one-yard sack late in the third quarter on a 3rd-and-10. Barnett made the 22nd sack of his career in the fourth quarter on 3rd-and-6 at the UF 24 to force a punt. He surpassed Parys Haralson (21, 2002-05), John Henderson (20.5, 1998-2001) and James Wilson (20.5, 1989-93) to move to No. 5 on UT's all-time sack list. He now ranks third among all active FBS players with 22.0 career sacks.
Barnett now also has 39 tackles for loss in his career, moving him past Todd Kelly (36.5, 1989-92) and John Henderson (38.5, 1998-2001) to fifth place on Tennessee's all-time list.
The No. 11/11 Vols head to Athens, Ga., to face No. 25/20 Georgia on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. ET game on CBS.
