Individual trophies might not be flooding in for Eric Berry.
But when it comes to team awards, the Tennessee safety is cleaning up again.
Berry was tabbed as a first-team All-SEC choice for the second consecutive year by The Associated Press on Monday, one of only five unanimous selections after another productive season at the back of the UT defense.
The junior was joined this year by defensive tackle Dan Williams on the first-team, and linebacker Rico McCoy, running back Montario Hardesty and left tackle Chris Scott were voted to the second team.
Berry was no surprise after earning All-America honors last week, but the emergence of Williams was one of the most pleasant the Vols had all season.
The powerful tackle has overcome a position change, a coaching transition and issues with his weight to become one of the most effective tackles in the country, and it clearly hasn’t gone unnoticed. At times he appeared unblockable in the middle of the UT line, and on the way to 61 tackles, nine hurries and 8.5 tackles for a loss Williams stamped himself as a possible first-round pick in the NFL draft.
“The people that have come through here and mentioned it to me have said (his stock) has skyrocketed,” UT coach Lane Kiffin said last month. “When he got here before the year, a couple people told me that they had him as a free agent, not even draftable. He’s come a long ways.”
The Vols’ offense made just as much progress from the beginning of the year, and much of the credit belongs to Hardesty.
Injury-plagued throughout his career, the senior proved his durability by handling the work in the backfield all year leading up to an epic 39-carry, 179-yard effort in an overtime win over Kentucky to close the regular season.
Hardesty finished third in the SEC in rushing, but he wasn’t able to crack the league’s first team, which was led by Offensive Player of the Year Mark Ingram of Alabama.
The No. 1 Crimson Tide also claimed the Coach of the Year in Nick Saban, and Vanderbilt’s Warren Norman was chosen Freshman of the Year.
Berry also was edged by the Crimson Tide in his bid to defend as Defensive Player of the Year, which went to linebacker Rolando McClain.
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Comments » 49
chrisw2967 writes:
Hardesty is the man,wish we had him for another year or 2.
dvhill100 writes:
Congrats and well deserved. Good luck in Atlanta.
Volguy1971 writes:
Congrats on great play this year guys....The team had leadership and heart this year...a deserving reward, although Hardesty should have been 1st team.
crimsonviper writes:
Well deserved,all of them,but i agree Hardesty should be 1st. team.
It would be nice to see Wes Brown receive some recognition before he leaves..he played through icredible pain and finished the year like a true warrior.
mempuss writes:
No love for Chris walker? he was beasting out there all season
Madkels writes:
Hardesty got robbed. He's a first teamer no doubt about it. How can you finish 3rd in rushing in the toughest conference on a 7-5 team and not get 1st team SEC? He was only 156 yards shy of the school record and averaged 108.8 yrds per game. Show them in the chicken bowl that they were wrong! GBO
Give_It_My_ALL writes:
still no talk if Eric Berry will be in our secondary next year? anyone got any scoop?
pammyvol1000 writes:
Eric may just surprise us all next year by wearing that ORANGE!!
Fulton_Vol writes:
If the first team has two running backs and Hardesty is third in the league then he is exactly in the spot he earned. Granted he has be a work horse for us but you can't take away the first team from Dixon who led the league nor Ingram. Congratulations to each player for a job well done, lets wish them all well in their bowl games and at the next level.
jmorri30 writes:
It is really irritating me that Berry is not getting the credit he deserves.
Berry, you're the man and the best defensive player in the country.
Go Vols!
murrayvol writes:
Eric will play on Sundays next year. Not a scoop....JMO.
He's done enough.
CoverOrange writes:
Are we to guess that Tebow got 3rd team running back?
AceVentura writes:
I could go for a scoop of berry flavored ice cream mmmmmm good.
JCJ1986 writes:
Oh I don't know, maybe because the RB on the first team plays for a 13-0 team and has more yards and touchdowns than Hardesty, just a thought.
Ayres_Hall writes:
Hardesty, Williams, and Crompton are evidence of the high level of coaching we have on staff now. Regardless of what they do or don't do in the NFL they became good college football players.
CoverOrange writes:
All Shula recruits. Correct?
Personally, I don't care if they graduate. That is there personal albatross to wear if they don't. Horse-lead-water.
1974Vol writes:
Berry will get the award that counts the most - BIG NFL MONEY. Barring him doing something real stupid (doubtful) or something happens to him out of the blue (could happen to any of us) he's getting eight figures in guaranteed money come the draft. My guess is 25-30 mil, Shuler got 19 almost 17 years ago; And being gauranteed he gets the money if he never plays a down. Would love to have him back for Sr. season but all of us don't have a multi-millionaire dad like Peyton. Eric's got to go and God's speed young man.
navarrebeachvol writes:
so do you, Ferret-gut...mostly out your arse. If you worship them so much, why don't you move down there? Do you have a family? Friends? Anything other than this web site? I'm betting you have never set foot on campus at Alabama. Just another loser internet troll. Slightly above the Gay+tor trolls as at least Bama won.
golfin_blondie writes:
Congras to all the men who worn the Orange and White! I my eyes they are All-Sec players. Seriously I kneow you have the best of the best and the five chosen it was well deserved. Good luck Berry and Hardesty because soon Sunday will be your day!
516milesfromUT writes:
if they listed a fullback he would have made first team.
navarrebeachvol writes:
Racist Rob, you change your name? Yea, Peyton didnt come back for an SEC Championship for UT, he came back because his dad had some money...right. You have any idea how much $ Peyton risked by coming back to UT AFTER ALREADY GRADUATING IN 3 YEARS with a 3.3 GPA? Well, check out his NFL pay and endorsements. Maybe you and racist Rob can get a job shining his shoes and NFL MVP and Super Bowl trophies. Oh yea, and Super Bowl MVP.
V_O_L_S_GO_VOLS_GO writes:
Gonna miss Eric. That's all I have to say.
V_O_L_S_GO_VOLS_GO writes:
Hey, Loper, you're late.
32-13.
V_O_L_S_GO_VOLS_GO writes:
Additionally, if you're gonna trash talk, at least get your verb tenses correct. It makes you sound (slightly, but not much) less retarded.
How much does GVX pay you, anyway? I'm just curious...
dvols writes:
how was j.jackson not fresman of the year???
oh yeah...
navarrebeachvol writes:
I'm going to go out on a short limb and suggest you were not an English major nor took English in high school. Format, context, past tense, present tense, commas...anything ring a bell? The only bigger joke than your post currently rests between your legs.
navarrebeachvol writes:
hehe just wondering....do you have to call a Gay+tor fan retarded or is it implied or redundant? Perfect mascot for the Florida fans...all mouth and no brains...plus they kind of stink. Go Bearcats!
chrisw2967 writes:
not to change the subject but I read on Gate 21 that Jay Graham interviewed for the RB coach
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Saban corch of the year?
I thought Urbane was ordained.
Cincy may crown him.
navarrebeachvol writes:
my daughter just set her facebook default photo to Tebow crying...ouch.....sad ending....
navarrebeachvol writes:
he was ordained right up to the time Saban took a knee on his throat at 1:32 to go in the 4th. Then he went to the hospital. poor thing.
TommyJack writes:
Good point about Rogan.
JaneZZ: Give it a rest, man.
cloudodust writes:
Rogan will get his due. I recall seeing Tennessee's freshmen DB's on the field in the 4th quarter of the 2007 SECCG and thinking 'What a future'. BTW, the Tennessee pass defense gave up a grand total of 5 TD passes this season. Led the SEC in that catagory followed by Florida and Alabama...
Orangeblood13 writes:
calling the kettle black I suppose for someone who never made it out of Farragut
After 1 season, your chastising CLK for graduating players?
He will back it up
Patterson8040 writes:
If fat Phil would have played Hardesty more last year, we might have avoided being such a poor running team. He always falls forward and wants the extra yards, doesn't run out of bounds every play like some in the past.
V_O_L_S_GO_VOLS_GO writes:
Hardesty couldn't play more because he's been injured nearly his entire career. Geeeeeeeeeeez.... everything is CPF's fault, no? :) LOL
chrisw2967 writes:
If you have scout they have an article about the kicker out of fla that gran recruited and just wondering if he is still coming here or going to FSU. I dont have it.
sidwalkvol writes:
Do I remember that we had no one on the first team last year except Berry? How many total?
tennezz writes:
We all know what scholar athletes Alabama has! I remember an all SEC running back Bear Bryant had! The Tv announcers bragged on him and talked about what a small town he came from! After the game they interviewed him and ask what the population was in his hometown! He ask "whut dat?" I guess its asking too much to expect a senior at Alabama to know how too talk or to know what population means!
ajg0814 writes:
Dude, chill out. Pointing out that Peyton Manning's dad was a lot richer than Berry's does not constitute as racism. you need to calm down...
anyway, congrats on berry, williams, hardesty, and the rest. all well deserved
DannyVol writes:
Trivia Time: Which quarterback who ranked 7th in SEC passing yards in 2009, and who threw 8 fewer touchdowns than Jonathon Crompton was named 1st team All-SEC?
Hint: Adams picked him first on his Heisman ballot as well (yes, he received one).
CoachFulmer writes:
Hardesty shoulda got consideration for the 1st team but the 2nd fits him. Ingram is definetely on the 1st team and i totally agree with dixon being on the 1st squad. He was the only thing Miss. State had on he made his mark on every game this season.
rockytop#413695 writes:
The only orange Eric Berry should be wearing next year might be Tampa Bay orange. I would love to see him come back for the Vols, but he has nothing to prove and really shouldn't risk his career and all that money. As Vol fans we all should want what's best for him and that is going to the NFL and get the money before they initiate a salary cap for rookies. Thanks for a great 3 years Eric. You are the best!
rockytop#413695 writes:
One question for you. Was Dan Williams listed on any preseason all SEC ballots? And he is now first team all SEC! Nuff said. And further there is a several million dollar difference between being a second round pick and a first round pick. Go smoke that in your dilusional pipe (or whatever you call that thing). If you don't think Ed O and Monte Kiffin can develop defensive linemen then you really are on something.
navyvolinva writes:
There has been a trade. With the 3rd selection, the Pittsburg Steelers select Eric Berry FS from the University of Tennessee!!!!
Ayres_Hall writes:
Some guys are moved by tears of another man.
Brillovol writes:
Nice post, BolivarBob. The telling thing about the selections is that there are 5 unanimous ones, but Tebow is not one of them. What was all that fuss about preseason?
illinoisvolfan writes:
How did Chris Scott make 2nd team All-SEC? This guy commits some of the dumbest penalties in the history of football. If the Vols ran a play to the right, several times there was a penalty on Scott for a usless hold or chop block or something that has absolutely nothing to do with the play. Two that stand out were against Alabama in '08 (took away an early TD and momentum) and against UK this season.
On the other hand, Wes Brown, Chris Walker, and Dennis Rogan should have been mentioned somewhere in the awards department and Jonathon Crompton should be Comeback Player of the Year or Most Improved Player, if there is such as thing in the SEC.
spvol writes:
How tough can that be? Forest Gump played at Bammer and graduated.
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