Eric Berry Formalizes Commitment to Tennessee Vols

By Jeff Flinn, NFLHS.com

Eric Berry does what's asked of him. He said that's always come naturally -- that's the way he was raised, and that's the reputation he gained on the football field.

The 6-foot, 194 pound Berry has logged a 4.33 40-yard dash and is projected to be an impact player at a number of different positions on the college level. And he has chosen the Tennessee Volunteers as the team he'll be providing lockdown corner support for this fall.

Making the decision seemed hard at first, Berry said, but became easier as he grew more familiar with coach Phil Fulmer and his staff.

"It was kind of difficult in the beginning, but after I sat down and talked with coach Fulmer and the rest of the coaching staff, it was a much easier decision after that," he said.

Also weighing in Berry's choice of schools is the fact his father, James Berry, was a Tennessee Volunteer in the late 1970s and spent a season as one of its captains.

But Berry said his father steered clear of the recruiting process, instead urging his son to take all his visits.

"My dad playing there was important to me, and now it's my turn to go there and get things done," he said.

Eric liked what he saw from Tennessee's coaches and pulled the trigger in December.

That became truth Feb. 7, when Berry signed his Letter of Intent at his high school.

When asked what he liked most about Tennessee, Berry said, "It was just the whole atmosphere. If I would end up getting hurt or something like that, I would still survive on campus; they've got a great campus, with great academic programs there.

"The coaches are very real with you."

He said the aspect of his game he is most proud of is "my work ethic. And all the talent I bring to the table. I can play a number of positions, and I'm willing to be coached, and that's probably the biggest thing, being coachable."

He's also extremely versatile.

"I've started at quarterback and free safety since the ninth-grade," he added. That versatility could carry over into his collegiate career, as the Vols plan to find ways to use Berry on offense in addition to giving him a shot at cornerback.

Pegged as one of the top cornerbacks in the nation, he demonstrated his lockdown ability, and his tendency to be around the ball, by intercepting five passes -- returning two for touchdowns -- during the first few of days of practice at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio in January.

Such premium play against a lineup of the nation's best high school gridiron players has got to be satisfying for coach Fulmer, given Tennessee's need at defensive back. The Vols graduated a corner and a safety, so playing time could be in Berry's immediate future.

"I can pick up things easy; I have all the tools I need to play on the next level, I just need to get the mental aspect of it," he said.

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.