Tennessee defensive back Evan Berry (29) leaves the locker room before warming up before an NCAA football game against Southern Mississippi at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017 in Knoxville, Tenn.KNOXVILLE – After four years of returning kicks for Tennessee, Evan Berry’s college football career seemingly has come to an end.
Coach Butch Jones announced Monday that Berry is injured again and will be out for the rest of the season.
Berry was hurt in the opening game of the season against Georgia Tech and missed the next six games before returning against Kentucky. He took the opening kickoff of this past Saturday’s 24-10 win against Southern Mississippi 46 yards to the 49-yard line.
“You know you saw that on Saturday night, he can change field position in a hurry,” Jones said. “He’s a threat every time he gets his hands on the ball. Just his will to get back and play his senior year and the want to be out there and help his football team win, I think it speaks volumes to him.”
Berry’s lone return against Southern Miss brought him within 34 yards of breaking Willie Gault’s school record for most career return yards. Berry finishes his career with 1,820 kickoff return yards.
Berry, who was also a reserve safety for the Volunteers, had four career returns for touchdowns, tying him for first with Gault.
“As a fellow teammate, that hurts for me,” senior punter and fellow special teams standout Trevor Daniel said. “I feel bad for him because it’s his senior year, so you don’t want to see a guy go out like that, so I feel for him.”
Other injuries
Jones said quarterback Jarrett Guarantano was “much better” and probable for Saturday’s game at Missouri. Jones said receiver Marquez Callaway, left tackle Drew Richmond and right tackle Brett Kendrick are questionable for the game.
If Callaway is unable to play, the depth of Tennessee’s already thin receiving corps will be tested with redshirt senior Josh Smith also still out with an injury.
“I think the reps that Josh Palmer is receiving, he’ll continue to grow and develop as a true freshman,” Jones said. “Jordan Murphy had his first career catch on Saturday night. We’re going to lean a lot more towards him. Then, Jeff George has played a lot of football for us. All of those individuals.
“We don’t have very many of them … but these individuals come to work every day. Tyler Byrd will be more involved in the offensive game plan as well.”
Palmer has eight catches for 93 yards for the season.
George has been much more active in the offense this season as he has six receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown. Byrd, after being a key contributor last year, has just three receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown.
Warrior leads team
Sophomore safety Nigel Warrior nearly was ejected from Saturday’s game due to targeting. The play was reviewed and deemed to not be targeting, much to the relief of Tennessee. With Berry’s injury woes and the loss of senior safety Todd Kelly Jr. for the season because of a knee injury, the backups behind Warrior and Micah Abernathy at safety are freshmen.
Warrior recorded six tackles in the game, which made him the Vols’ leader for the season with 64.
“I saw someone wrote an article saying that it was his best game here, and in many ways it was,” defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said. “He made a couple mistakes, and he knows it … but, boy, he sure can tackle. That’s what he does well. He’s explosive; he’s athletic. He’s upper SEC talent wise in terms of safeties, and he’s just going to get better.”
Warrior will need to make big plays this Saturday as the Vols take on a Missouri team that averages 315 passing yards per game.
Contact Rob Harvey at sports@timesfreepress.com.