Eric Berry

Eric Berry is a strong safety expected to be among the top picks in the 2010 NFL draft. Among the teams interested in Berry are the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Scouts love Berry's speed, his athleticism, and his intelligence, although say he'll have to work on his upper-body strength once he reaches the NFL. While not short at 6 feet, Berry also isn't the tallest of defensive backs. http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2010eberry.php He was selected fifth overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round.http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/live/landing

Berry played college football with the Tennessee Volunteers football team in the NCAA. He was the team's best defensive player for the previous two years, and started for the Vols even as a college freshman. He left school as the leading interceptor in the nation. http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2009/Internet/career/careerIntB8.html Although he had one year remaining of eligibility, Berry announced he will enter the NFL Draft following Tennessee's loss in the Chick-Fil- A Bowl. According to many scouts, Berry is the #1 safety prospect in the 2010 NFL Draft. For much of the 2009 season, he was projected as a top-three pick, although his stock slipped a bit after the season ended. http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft10/insider/news/story?id=4581701&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2fdraft10%2finsider%2fnews%2fstory%3fid%3d4581701 http://www.thefootballexpert.com/cox2010mockdraft.html

Eric Berry came to the University of Tennessee during a turbulent stretch for the Vols, witnessing two coaching changes at a school where there previously hadn't been one in more than 15 years. Nonetheless, Berry shined throughout his time with the Big Orange. He totaled 241 tackles in his three year career at Tennessee. He also compiled three sacks, 14 interceptions, and three touchdowns in 38 career games. In 2009, Berry was a unanimous All-American selection, and was named to the All-Decade team according to Sports Illustrated. He never had fewer than three tackles in any game at UT, and started evey game in his college career. http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/berry_eric00.html

• 2006: Georgia High School Player of the Year

• 2007: All-SEC Freshman Team

• 2008: First Team All SEC

• 2008: Jack Tatum Award winner

• 2008: SEC Defensive Player of the Year

• 2009: Jim Thorpe Award winner

• "I really just wanted to make sure there was no stone unturned. I sat down with Coach Kiffin and talked about it and talked with my family and talked with some of my close teammates and friends about the whole situation. I wanted to make sure I weighed every possible scenario or situation that could happen."--Eric Berry. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/12/29/berry-nfl.ap/index.html