Getty Images Stacy Revere

For the first time in a long time, Tennessee is a true title contender, and it's thanks in large part to a major talent upgrade across the board since Butch Jones took over. Most of the focus entering this season is on the star power on offense, where Jalen Hurd and Joshua Dobbs will be key, but don’t forget about the Vols' stacked defense. And, yes, that includes Barnett, one of the most consistently spectacular players in college football the past two years. Barnett has been a star since the moment he arrived in Knoxville, including in 2014 when he set Tennessee records for sacks (10) and tackles for loss (20.5) by a freshman. That’s a staggering accomplishment when you consider all the great D-linemen who’ve played on Rocky Top, including Reggie White and Albert Haynesworth. While Barnett's stats weren’t quite as good last year, it was due more to the emerging talent around Barnett rather than a dip in overall production. Still, his 10 sacks and 12.5 TFL’s were good enough to earn him All-SEC honors. Look for him to earn similar acclaim in 2016.