KNOXVILLE — That poor Eric Berry.
He can have one of the best freshman seasons in University of Tennessee football history, but he can’t please those closest to him.
According to Volunteers coach Phillip Fulmer, Berry is “not just one of the best freshman defensive backs in the country, but one of the best defensive backs in the country.”
But when the son of former UT captain James Berry calls his father, or Creekside (Ga.) High School defensive coordinator Johnny White, he’s rarely congratulated for more than a few seconds.
“They always remind me that a pat on the back and a kick in the butt is only six inches away,” Berry said. “You can take the hype or whatever, and take all of the compliments, but you just have to say thank you and keep moving.”
Is it possible for Berry to avoid the hype? Especially after his 2007 season?
“I think he will,” his senior safety mate, Jonathan Hefney, said late last season. “Remember, he was the No. 1 defensive back (prospect) in the nation for a reason. He was supposed to do all this.”
Berry was named SEC defensive freshman of the year, All-Southeastern Conference and a Freshman All-American after posting 86 tackles and five interceptions, which he returned for 222 yards.
He had a 96-yard interception-return score at Florida and escaped traffic to return a fumble 52 yards inside the 5-yard line in UT’s win over South Carolina. Berry has been electronically timed at 4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash, so he has speed, but he also made several big hits throughout his freshman season.
He made big plays in bunches. He added an interception against the Gamecocks, picked off two passes against Arkansas and again completed the interception/fumble recovery combination against LSU in the SEC championship game.
“It was fun, but it would have been more fun if we’d have won the SEC and national championships,” Berry said last week. “That’s why we’ve got to stay hungry and humble.”
UT’s defensive backfield usually had senior Hefney, who was bothered by turf toe, and three first-year starters: Berry and cornerbacks Brent Vinson and DeAngelo Willingham. The first man off the bench was Dennis Rogan, another freshman.
The offseason, off-the-field losses of safety Demitrice Morley (academics) and Roshaun Fellows (discipline) and early-season knee injuries to cornerback starters Antonio Gaines and Marsalous Johnson took a toll on the Vols.
“People talked so bad about us at the beginning of the season,” Berry said. “We just took it upon ourselves to come closer and do what we had to do to make the defense better, because we were the weak link, to tell you the truth. We’re not scared to say that.
“But we worked our way back up, too, I’ll say that.”
And they look to be loaded in the secondary next season. Morley is back and may start alongside Berry at safety, and Johnson, Gaines, Vinson, Rogan and Willingham are five cornerbacks capable of starting. Coaches also like the potential of corners C.J. Fleming and Art Evans, who redshirted last season. Rogan could also make an impact at safety, as could Antonio Wardlow and Ricardo Kemp.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Berry said. “This group, we’re not scared of competition. We say, ‘If the guy next to me is better, put him in.’ We just want to see this team do good, and this defense do good.
“If someone is better than me or the guy next to me, that’s fine, as long as we’re winning.”
It’s highly unlikely that any Vols — or many players nationwide — will be better than Berry, as long as he stays on the path he’s started.
Just don’t expect those closest to him to act too surprised — or even impressed.
“I’ve just got to take it upon myself not to get lazy,” Berry said. “My teammates push me every day. When we’re working out, Art Evans tells me, ‘You’ve got to go first round (in the NFL draft). You have first-round potential. You’ve got to step it up more.’
“He’s always on my back.”
Isn’t everyone?
“I just feel like I’m expected to work hard and push myself to be the best I can be,” Berry said. “And I have no problem with that.”
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