Tennessee sophomore safety Eric Berry was named one of three finalists for the Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top defensive back.
Berry leads the nation with seven interceptions and returned a pick 45 yards for a touchdown - his second interception return touchdown this year - in UT's 20-10 win over the Commodores.
The winner will be announced during ESPN's college football awards ceremony on Dec. 11.
Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins and Southern Cal's Taylor Mays are the other finalists.
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Comments » 41
therazbo writes:
dont want to think just how much worse things could be if we didnt have Berry
ctownvol writes:
They should just go ahead and give him the hardware now.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Eric Berry is the winner in my book!!
volsare1 writes:
if he dont get it just another rip off in college football awards....cough cough peyton
DennisVols writes:
He deserves this and any other awards he is up for. I for one would name him the All-American Saftey and The College Player of the Year with Class.
hotrodvol writes:
Go Berry Go!!!
ncvol17 writes:
Go Berry but writers love USC and Ohio State.. remember Peyton got hosed by writers in the west and in Big 10 country.
iowavol writes:
Great recognition for a truly great football player. Eric is only going to get better, think about it. I for one am glad EB is on our team. Go Eric - do it one more time against the Mild Cats! Go Vols!
Just a comment about some of the earlier posts - anybody hear the theory about glass half empty???? What a great moment for EB and some want to talk about negatives for the past 10 years - geez get over it. Focus on what might be for EB!
SemperVol writes:
If somehow there was a Michigan QB to snatch this away from...oh the humanity.
cdldoc#211897 writes:
Is there anyay to send an email that Coach Fulmer might have somebody read?
pammyvol1000 writes:
This says it all!! We love you Eric! Tribute to Eric Berry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIfRBF...
bugman (Inactive) writes:
berry hands down wins this. If not it's another Manning heisman all over again.
MrBamSeydu writes:
Eric Berry has this award locked. Then again, it wouldn't be the first time a bunch of AP yankees jerked the rug out from under a Tennessee player to give it to an over-rated Big 10 player... so we'll see....
7 int's (leads nation), 2 for TD, hard hitting highlight reel tackles, and has chance to break NCAA career int return yard record in only his 2nd season..... Yeah, I think he should win.
SemperVol writes:
This, pammy, is good stuff.
JBruce writes:
All that we need is for the UT Science Department to clone about 30 more of Eric Berry. We would be unstopable!!
And Eric Berry hikes the ball to Eric Berry who drops back and passes to OH MY GOD A WIDE OPEN ERIC BERRY!!! TOUCHDOWN TENNESSSEEEE!!!!!!!
jcherrie#219531 writes:
Well - usually you are right. There is only 1 Heismann winner in history from a losing team (and everyone in Tennessee knows who that is). Usually, the 1st NFL pick is from a good team.
But I'm not ready to accept your 4-7 hypothesis as an axiom.
A few years back Courtney Brown (not the Dallas One) - was one of the most dominating linemen in college football playing for a 5-7 Penn State team - and was the first overall draft pick. He had a promising pro career until chronic injuries kicked in.
Anyway - time will tell - but calling him the "best player in the nation" is not that far-fetched.
If you want to come up with a metric - let's settle this bet in 5 years from now.
kbart4033#247331 writes:
Eric Berry's Dream Team:
Offensive Co-ordinator: Major Applewhite
Defensive Co-ordinator: Kevin Steele
Head Coach: Bill Cowher
jcherrie#219531 writes:
No a clown that has made 796 posts since August 10th - an average of 8 posts a day - deserves to be hosed.
Now that's a loser with no life!!! Look in the mirror and hose yourself!!
Pathetic!!!
xvolx writes:
and should be.
jcherrie#219531 writes:
Thank you for the description of the forum. Actually, I think it's to discuss UT football, not to dominate the boards with insults.
I'm not angry one bit. Im making observations. You don't just provide opinions, you provide insults. You don't show intelligence, just childishness. If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen.
I like to read the opinions of UT fans. Quit posing as one.
Maybe you're angry that Peyton holds 2 NCAA records and a half dozen SEC records. Maybe you're angry that Peyton holds a couple NFL records and a Super Bowl Ring. But you've told us at least a half dozen times --
The point is no one cares what you have to say -- post away -- but remember this is a forum for my opinion too.
I just figured it's time to let you know what real UT fans think of you.
jcherrie#219531 writes:
Go to bed dvolfan you started at 8:33 am. You might be the most prolific poster of garbage in the history or GoVols Extra.
As for me - I'm stuck on the left coast - so I have to post my garbage late.
ctownvol writes:
Charles Woodson? Who is that? Does he still play in the NFL?
ctownvol writes:
Yep. You're right. He may go in the hall of fame...if he buys a ticket!
No solid word. Best I can tell is that was just some sports talk guys in Memphis giving their best guess. Could be right or could just be pulling the chains of Vol fans. Sound familiar?
jcherrie#219531 writes:
Uh huh. You're entire posting history does give one shred of evidence that you're a Manning fan, a UT fan or a fan of anyone. Maybe the first four 'hard hat' or 'butter finger' comments were mildly funny -- but
I'm not angry -- but in all seriousness -- you need a hobby my friend.
jcherrie#219531 writes:
You don't know how much it pains me to say but Woodson has a shot - 4 pro bowls and he's still playing well - but he still has a long way to go to put up Darrell Green numbers.
Anyway - Manning with 8 pro bowls as a QB is a shoe in.
utchris writes:
Breaking News: Barack Obama will reportedly name Eric Berry US Secretary of Defense on Tuesday!
Stay tuned for more details.
ZR writes:
Berry would win the Heisman if he could play one game lining up opposite Jon Crompton at quarterback. You think 0-1 with 1 interception was bad....
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
If Chuck Webb and Eric Berry played in the same time period...
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
quit crying, it doesn not become you!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
If only it was next Sunday.
kabul_vol writes:
What is your issue with Peyton Manning, specifically? Also, if I am not mistaken, you've also railed against many other UT players and coaches. So, just so I can understand, are you actually a UT fan or just another team's fan coming here to throw out insults?
Thanks
BigOrangeJeff writes:
d(non)volfan 12:06:
Berry reminds you of Woodson? Yeah, I remember all of those bone-jarring hits delivered by Woodson. During his Hypes-man season, I believe His Woodness had fewer than 10 tackles.
Stop showing your ignorance. If you're gonna come here and insult the program, at least make it funny or factual.
BOJ
auttat writes:
Who on this board has actually watched the other 2 guys play? On a regular basis? Just trying to get an objective view to see how they would truthfully rate the other players to Berry.
SemperVol writes:
I just watched Charles Woodson and company get torched for 323 and 4 TDs by Brees....stellar performance.
jasonn1970 writes:
Eric Berry is the best college DB I have ever seen. I was a little too young to remember Ronnie Lott in college. But he seems to me to be very similar to Lott. Berry should win this award without question.
ctownvol writes:
I was watching highlights of the New Orleans/Green Bay gme and there was one constant... Charles Woodson running after receivers heading into the endzone. That dude gets burnt more than a red-head at the beach.
Tenn_Dawg writes:
Eric is one of those special players that only come around every 10-15 years. He makes his play look effortless and easy. Eric is also the type that could play four to five different positions and excel at it. He should win this award hands downs.
Need_2_Know writes:
Just an observation, DC, but the best player in the nation could, in fact, reside on a 4-7 team. However, as good a Eric is I don't think he's the number one player nationwide, at least not yet. I do think he's as good at his position as last year's Heisman winner was at his, wouldn't you agree? Both are among the best at their position and both can turn in game-changing plays.
Wherethe____isBrandonWarren writes:
I just looked up the numbers for this season.
Malcolm Jenkins: 54 tackles (Average 5.4 per game); 3 interceptions with 7 return yards; 1 sack, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles; 9 pass break-ups
Taylor Mays: 46 Tackles (Average of 4.6 per game); 7 pass break-ups; 2 tackles for loss; no interceptions, forced fumbles, or sacks
Eric Berry: 67 tackles (Average 6.1 per game); 6.5 tackles for loss; 3 sacks; 7 interceptions (1st nationally) with 265 int. return yards and two TDs; 6 pass break-ups
If Berry loses, than this year's award selection will officially surpass the 2000 Presidential vote in Florida as the most fraudulent in the last 25 years in America
volnbig11land writes:
I live amongst the suckeye faithful and eventhough they hype anything and everything, the ones I know don't try to say Jenkins is better than Berry.
They do though still try to justify the last two national championship "shock and awes" they were a part of....
HallowedHill writes:
Give Berry the Heisman too!!
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