Eric Berry - Best Football Player Ever

As an irritated Tennessee fan, people will say to you, "Why are you still going to these games?" Well, I can tell you because, A. I paid for the tickets but most importantly B. because I still do have pride in my team. Just because we are under producing and not utilizing the talent on our field doesn't mean I'm not going to be a fan anymore.

But if I was...I'd still go for one reason: SEC teams still run offensive plays in the vicinity of Eric Berry, and as long as they're doing that, something great is happening at Tennessee.

Berry, a sophomore safety, is believed by most to be a starter since he walked on campus. If I recall correctly, he started his second game...due to Jarod Parish going down with an injury known as, being terrible, in the first series of the first game of the year at Berkeley. He ended the season with five picks and was named the SEC Freshman Defensive Player of the Year as well as a unanimous Freshman All-American.

This year, well, Berry has taken it to the next level, leading the nation in interceptions (5) and has been named SEC Defensive Player of the Week twice as of this morning after his 10 tackle, one sack, 2 pass breakups, and one 71-yard interception return for a touchdown night this past weekend (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5UwgsTIBU8) which lead to an "Eric Berry" chant in Neyland Stadium. Not to mention the hit of the year on Georgia's Knowshon Moreno ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZKTaC9-jDQ).

This kid is a safety, flying around and not only picking balls off with standard flair, but absolutely punishing people in his way He's a safety who's worth the price of admission. Not only does he have the 10 picks on his career, but he also has 397 return yards off of those interceptions...he's averaging 40 yards a touch. Why isn't this kid getting touches on offense?

Something happened 11 years ago that most Vol fans will never forget...Peyton Manning didn't win the Heisman, and CB Charles Woodson of Michigan did. As a sophomore, there is no way you can tell me that Woodson was what Berry is right now...Berry just needs to touches all over the field. Coach Fulmer says things like, "Eric is so valuable on defense and special teams (blocking) that we can't afford to allow him to get fatigued by getting him reps on offense and in the return game..." Do you think Eric Berry can get fatigued? What are 3-4 extra plays really going to do to this guy? Was he fatigued in the fourth quarter after running that pick back? Seriously Phil.

If UT had any sense of anything, they'd be campaigning for Berry to be the second defensive player in history to win the Heisman. He's that good, that explosive. Keep in mind, Woodson's Heisman winning year, he had eight picks for...seven return yards while having zero responsibility for stopping the run. Berry played quarterback in high school, and was pretty amazing...and Fulmer talks about getting him the ball on a reverse or something. Who cares? Throw him the ball in space! The guy goes 40 yards every time he touches the ball! Are these guys nuts?

Berry is going to get his Thorpe Award(s) and his All-America Honors and maybe a shot at the big one, coach/program willing. But Berry is also just the best guy of all time as well. He legacy at UT is growing faster than any other legends of Neyland Stadium, with the stories of Berry staying late to work with the managing staff to get jersey and shorts ready for practice and hosting his brothers (yes he has two twin brothers who play QB and RB and seem to be at UT every weekend...) during their Spring Break to come play soccer with the UT Women's Soccer team so they could all work on their footwork together.

Some day, Berry is going to be a top 10 NFL draft pick and have his #14 retired with the likes of Peyton Manning and Reggie White. The guy plays safety and might seriously go down as the greatest player in Tennessee history. Not only can he play, but he's as good of a guy off the field as he is on it. So what else is there to say...other than, GIVE HIM THE BALL.

This ki