Tennessee junior defensive end Derek Barnett

Derek Barnett went public Tuesday with news everyone in and around the Tennessee program expected.

The All-America junior defensive end took to Twitter and essentially declared his intention to leave the Vols after three season and enter the NFL Draft — where most analysts have predicted he’ll be taken in the first round.

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“It has been 3 great years. I’m very thankful for getting the opportunity to play at Tennessee! Thank you all for the many memories,” Barnett wrote in his first tweet since Aug. 24.

It has been 3 great years. I'm very thankful for getting the opportunity to play at Tennessee! Thank you all for the many memories pic.twitter.com/QSZfytpef8 — Derek Barnett (@dbarnett25) January 3, 2017

Barnett, a Nashville native, started and starred from Day One at Tennessee, recording 10-plus sacks in each of his three seasons. In his final game — the Vols’ Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl win over Nebraska last week in his hometown — Barnett collected his 33rd career sack to pass Hall of Famer Reggie White in the program’s record book.

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Three Tennessee juniors — Barnett, wide receiver Josh Malone and running back Alvin Kamara — have now declared their intentions to forego their final seasons of eligibility and enter the draft.

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