Elizabeth Olivier/UTsports.com

Tennessee's Joe Berry clears the bar in the pole vault during Smoky Mountain Twilight at Tom Black Track on May 6. The freshman won the SEC outdoor title.

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Overheard in SEC coaching circles: "Have you seen that Berry kid from Tennessee? I can't believe he's just a freshman."

Last fall they said it about Eric Berry.

This spring, they're saying it about Joe Berry.

"He's a tough kid, a really tough kid, a really tough competitor," said Russ Johnson.

"He kind of reminds me of the other Berry at Tennessee.''

Johnson is UT's pole vault coach. Joe Berry, no relation to Freshman All-America defensive back Eric, is his prize pupil who recently won the SEC outdoor title.

Lately, Berry has been winning everything he enters. Heading into the two-day NCAA Mideast Region meet starting Friday in Fayetteville, Ark., Berry is on a four-meet streak.

Winning pole vault competitions as a true freshman is about as rare as some of the feats Eric Berry accomplished during football season. Especially at prestigious meets like the Drake Relays and SEC championships.

"He's fearless," said Johnson. "I don't think the word 'nervous' is in his vocabulary. That's what you want to see from a coaching standpoint."

Berry needs to be fearless this weekend. The NCAA Mideast meet is one of four regional qualifiers for the national meet.

The top five in each event get automatic bids to nationals June 11-14 in Des Moines, Iowa. After those 20 spots are filled, six at-large spots will be added in each event.

Berry is ranked fifth in the region, with a best mark of 17 feet, 2.75 inches, his winning SEC height. If he finishes sixth or worse, he'll have to hope for an at-large bid. He ranks 19th nationally.

"If he doesn't make top five this weekend, he'd be right on the bubble,'' said UT coach Bill Webb.

Being fearless means you don't lack for confidence.

"I'm really healthy right now," Berry said. "I'm a fierce competitor.

"I have no doubt in my mind I'll at least get top five to make the automatic (bid)."

Berry came to UT from Horsham, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia. He arrived with a best mark of 16-10, but was in for an immediate rude awakening.

"My first day of practice (at UT) ever," Berry recounted, "I pick up a pole and my coach walked over and told me I'm holding the pole wrong.

"I'm like, this is out of control. You're telling me I don't even know how to hold a pole right?

"The transition turned out to be a little harder than I thought."

It's not over, either.

"He's still got a lot to change, a lot to fix," said Johnson. "But he's really been a pleasure to work with."

As outdoor season progressed, it became apparent Berry would carry the vault flag for UT. Senior All-American Michael Hogue couldn't overcome a back injury suffered after he won the SEC indoor title, his fourth conference title overall.

Berry's outdoor title was UT's sixth consecutive SEC vault victory. This weekend, fifth place will get the job done.

"It doesn't matter what you're ranked," said Berry. "You have to show up, have your mind right and compete."

Qualifying: UT's 18-man region contingent is led by sprinters Rubin Williams and Evander Wells, but the Mideast is loaded with top sprinters.

The decathlon is exempt from regional qualifying, so Jangy Addy and Michael Ayers have earned automatic bids.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.