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Berry one of 40 players named to Thorpe watch list
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Tennessee safety Eric Berry was among 40 players named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list Tuesday. The award is presented annually by the Jim Thorpe Association to the top defensive back in college football.
Berry, a sophomore from Fairburn, Ga., is one of eight players from the Southeastern Conference to make the list. And he joins fellow sophomore Tavious Polo of Florida Atlantic as the only two underclassmen candidates.
Berry earned Freshman All-America and second-team All-SEC honors last season while living up to his billing as one of the top newcomers on the college football landscape. He led all SEC freshmen in tackles with 86 and added a team-high five interceptions for 222 return yards. That return total was a school record and the second-highest figure in SEC history.
An aspiring dentist, Berry was recently named to the 2008 SEC Freshmen Academic Honor Roll.
In addition to his inclusion on the Thorpe watch list, Berry also appears on this year’s Chuck Bednarik Award (top college defensive player) watch list and the Lott Trophy (college football’s defensive IMPACT player of the year) watch list.
A “Screening Committee” of Jim Thorpe Association members grades the Thorpe Award candidates throughout the season on the basis of performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The committee meets on the first Monday in November to narrow the field to 10 or 12 semifinalists. Three finalists are slated to be named on the Monday before Thanksgiving.
The list of finalists is then submitted to a national panel of sports writers, sportscasters, coaches and former players that votes to determine the winner. The finalists are invited to the ESPN College Football Awards Show, during which the winner is announced.
Former Vol and current Seattle Seahawks safety Deon Grant was selected as a finalist for the Thorpe Award in 1999. Three other former Vols were named semifinalists for the award: Dwayne Goodrich (1999), Andre Lott (2000) and Jason Allen (2004).
2008 Jim Thorpe Award Watch List: Asher Allen, Georgia; Nate Allen, South Florida; Antonio Baker, Louisiana Tech; ERIC BERRY, TENNESSEE; David Bruton, Notre Dame; Joe Burnett, Univ. Central Florida; Jairus Byrd, Oregon; Chris Chancellor, Clemson; Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech; Barry Church, Toledo; Patrick Chung, Oregon; Emanuel Cook, South Carolina; Vontae Davis, Illinois; Kevin Ellison, Southern California; Londen Fryar, W. Michigan; Courtney Greene, Rutgers; Michael Hamlin, Clemson; Nic Harris, Oklahoma; Victor Harris, Virginia Tech; Stephen Hodge, TCU; Brandon Hughes, Oregon State; Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State; Rashad Johnson, Alabama; Jordan Lake, Baylor; Trevard Lindley, Kentucky; Taylor Mays , Southern California; D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt; Mike Mickens, Cincinnati; William Moore, Missouri; Captain Munnerlyn, South Carolina; Troy Nolan, Arizona State; Derek Pegues; Mississippi State; Tavious Polo, Florida Atlantic; Myron Rolle, Florida State; Corey Small, Florida Atlantic; Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest; DeAngelo Smith, Cincinnati; Walter Thurmond, Oregon; Chip Vaughn, Wake Forest; DeAndre Wright, New Mexico
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Posted by tngeoff on July 8, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great! Make it happen!
Posted by b_neas on July 8, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If Berry stays 3 or 4 years he will be up there with the UT greats. Not just as a def players either. They need to find ways to get the ball in his hands more IMO. He is an amazing talent and needs to be on the field as much as possible. I hope he gets all the awards he deserves.
Posted by RichRollin on July 8, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm lovin it. Atleast he is getting the attention that he deserves from a national standpoint.
Posted by GreerVol22 on July 8, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If he plays 4 years he'll be ready for the D-line. I hear Chavis has him big enough for MLB right now...
Posted by murrayvol on July 8, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I doubt DCflorida will have any issues with Berry's inclusion on the Thorpe list.
Posted by pdhuff on July 8, 2008 at 7:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
True, murrayvol - this should be clear of controversy.
Posted by Bass_Vol_1998 on July 8, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If Berry can live up to half of the hype- then he will have a killer year. A hard hitter- I thought he had really injured that QB for Wisconsin. And he seems very comfortable with the ball in his hands. Can't wait for 2008... I'd bet he gets a pick against UCLA.
Posted by ctownvol on July 8, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's to you EB! Have a helluva year bro.
Posted by General_Watermelon on July 8, 2008 at 8:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Eric Berry for President!
Posted by RichRollin on July 8, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GOONSQUAD!, GOONSQUAD!
Posted by marc_ash on July 9, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How exciting. This will be a fantastic year for EB and Vinson both (if he can stay healthy).
Think they will be making a lot of plays from the secondary. Would love to see a Berry-Harvin match up when FL comes to town!
Posted by IPOrange on July 9, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Eric "the dentist" Berry - hope he gets plenty of practice drilling guys this fall.
I can't wait to see this group in action. How many days, Ashley?
Posted by knoxnewsuser on July 9, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"UT Football, the appetizer for UT Basketball!"
Posted by bigfan502 on July 10, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
C'mon Berry don't allow UCLA to use ROPE-A_ DOPE trick in the furnace-like heat of the Rose bowl on Labor day...Don't allow your team mates to punch themselves out in the first half. No ROPE -A-DOPE, please.
Posted by ballewville6 on July 12, 2008 at 2:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
play berry some at reciever and watch him play awesome defense and give him the heisman ,over anyone,because he is better than charles woodson when woodson beat peyton manning who had a steller year and was the biggest debaucle in heisman trophey history.so i can see berry winningthe thorp award and the heisman just play him at reciever he would get 35 catches for 790 yards anwd return a few punts and kick offs for touchdowns
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