Eric BerryKNOXVILLE -- One of Tennessee's most beloved former football players was back in Knoxville on Saturday.
Once an All-America safety for the Volunteers, Eric Berry, the Kansas City Chiefs star who continues to undergo treatment following his diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma, stood in the south end zone of Neyland Stadium talking with younger brothers Evan and Elliott, currently rising sophomores at Tennessee, after Saturday's practice.
James Berry, the trio's father and another former Tennessee defensive back, was present, too, as the Vols held their annual spring family day, where players' family members come to town, watch practice and spend time together.
"Having Eric Berry here is very symbolic of what this football program stands for, and that's family," Vols coach Butch Jones said. "We're all one family. Having the Berry family here at the bowl game and being able to spend quality time with them the day before the game, and then having him and his father here, I know it means a lot to Evan and a lot to Elliott.
"We're all one family, and to have them here for family day means a lot, as (does) having all of our family members here."
Evan Berry indicated earlier in the week that Eric had just three treatments remaining.
"He's doing really good," he said. "To be honest, I really don't see it affecting him. He's a very strong person, and we'll just continue to keep him strong."
In addition to family day, the Vols hosted their annual coaching clinic this weekend, with hundreds of high school coaches from Knoxville and elsewhere in Tennessee to watch practice and attend presentations from the Vols' coaches.
Hall of Fame former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer gave the keynote address to the clinic Friday morning, and Johnny Majors, a renowned former player and coach for the Vols, was at Saturday's practice.
After Saturday's practice, the team and all their relatives in attendance came together at midfield for a picture before attending what Jones called a "family reunion-style barbecue" at the football complex.
'Need more' from Pearson
As receiver Von Pearson ran back to the huddle after he tried to snag a catchable pass with one hand during one of Tennessee's situational periods, Jones hollered at the talented junior college transfer that "big-time players make that catch."
The coach's message didn't change much when he met with the media after practice.
"We need to get Von Pearson going," he said. "He needs to understand the effort, the intensity that it takes every time you step out on the football field. He's one of our playmakers, and we need more from him in moving forward.
"Von will bounce back, Von will come to play and I love Von, but he has to understand that you perform with a high level of consistency every time you step on the football field."
Vickers praised again
For the second time this week, Jones singled out redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Kendal Vickers for his play.
After Vickers made an impact during a goal-line period during Tuesday's practice, Jones said Saturday the 6-foot-3, 288-pounder, who posted a team-high squat of 710 pounds this offseason, is "starting to show up" consistently in practice.
"Kendal's really starting to use his hands more, and he's starting to use his athletic ability, and he's very explosive," Jones explained. "That shows in the weight room, but now it's transferring from the weight room onto the football field. He's been able to do that.
"Now you're starting to see the volume of repetitions really starting to improve his play. I can see his first step off the football. He's playing with much more explosiveness, he's playing with much more confidence and he's using his hands and his technique better."
Strong at safety
Evan Berry continues to perform well this spring, as he followed up a two-interception practice a week earlier with another active practice Saturday, when he often wound up near the ball.
Another safety, Todd Kelly, caught the eyes of Jones and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin.
Jones said the rising sophomore "had maybe his best practice of the year" and credited Berry's recent play for spurring him on, and Reeves-Maybin named Kelly when asked to identify a player who stood out to him Saturday.
And to think the presence of veterans Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil may keep both Kelly and Berry out of the starting lineup of safety.
"Talking to those guys, I just know when LaDarrell and Randolph are back there, we're always on the same page," Reeves-Maybin said. "Seeing those young guys kind of get on the same page is good. It's good to watch them grow and see what they can bring to the field."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.