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'A dynamic playmaker': Tennessee to honor Eric Berry at halftime of Texas A&M game

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•10/13/23•

GrantRamey

Eric Berry
Tennessee Athletics

The University of Tennessee and the College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday will honor former Tennessee All-American safety Eric Berry at halftime of the game between the 19th-ranked Vols and Texas A&M at Neyland Stadium.

Berry is being honored as a member of the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class. Each member of the new class returns to their respective campuses to be honored and accept a Hall of Fame plaque that stays on permanent display at their schools. 

Berry in three seasons at Tennessee, from 2007-09, had 245 tackles, 14 interceptions, 17.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He returned three interceptions for touchdowns and had 494 yards in interception return yards.

No. 19 Tennessee vs. Texas A&M, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS

He was a two-time All-American with the Vols and in 2008 was named the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year after recording 72 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and returning two of his seven interceptions for touchdowns.

“A dynamic playmaker,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said of Berry this week, “that changed the way the game was played in the middle of the football field. Played violently, played downhill, just one of the best to ever play the position — I feel that way — in college, but also at the next level.”

Berry was the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, selected by the Kansas City Chiefs. He played in 89 games over nine seasons. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and three times named All Pro. 

He was named the 2015 Comeback Player of the Year by both the Associated Press and Pro Football Writers Association after returning from Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

This weekend, Heupel said during his press conference on Thursday, will finally provide him the opportunity to spend time around Berry.

“Haven’t had a bunch of opportunities to have a lot of interactions with him,” Heupel said on Thursday. “I’m really excited to get a chance to spend some time with him here. Friday, he’ll be with us and certainly on game day too.”

‘He set the standard of what defensive back looks like as a Vol’

Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks during his press conference on Tuesday said Berry is the model the Vols use for what a Tennessee defensive back should be. 

“Just his passion, the energy that he played with,” Banks said. “I don’t know, can you teach instincts? I don’t know. But his instincts were off the charts and he just played so fast and you could just feel the energy and the passion when he made plays. 

“All the players that have come back and talked about him just talk about his leadership skills as well, particularly on the field. So it’s a tremendous honor, obviously for him. 

“We talk about him a lot in the recruiting process,” Banks added. “He set the standard of what defensive back looks like as a Vol. So we’re trying to recruit those type of guys, but he was definitely a pleasure to watch it. And obviously it’s great to have him on our sideline hopefully this weekend.”

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