Eric Berry didn't post the fastest time in the 40-yard dash or push through the most reps on the bench press. But all the former Tennessee safety's numbers during the NFL combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday were near the top of the class of defensive backs, and his well-rounded display of athleticism solidified his stock as a top-five pick in next month's draft.
Berry was clocked at 4.47 seconds officially in the 40-yard dash, just behind Southern California's Taylor Mays at 4.43. But perhaps more important than blazing speed, Berry showed solid strength with 19 reps on the bench and great athleticism with a 43-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 10 feet, 10 inches.
Collectively those numbers will back up his All-American credentials with the Vols, likely firming up his potential selection somewhere between No. 3 to Tampa Bay and No. 6 to Seattle at the top of the draft board on April 22.
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Comments » 120
10cvolnga writes:
4.2 or 4.5 -- EB has too many assets to worry about this number. The team that lands him will see an immediate impact!
Mule_Days_King writes:
What did Cody's left b**b run?
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
EB=Beast!!
NCVOL09 writes:
If anyone wants to see some impressive numbers relative to their position check out Hardesty. He was a top performer in all events and even topped the broad and vertical jumps.
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
5.6..Doh!!
SEC1 writes:
Best safety is the kid from Texas(the real UT) Earl Thomas his 40 time was better than berry.
ncvol17 writes:
Seattle?? He'll never be heard from again...Please get drafted on the East coast or the South...
jimr07 writes:
I don't think you are going to find many of the draft experts will agree with you. At least none of the ones i have heard.
raynochonspeed#212632 writes:
Troll much?
The difference between Thomas and Berry is that Berry has produced results on the field consistently for 3 years. Thomas looks good on paper and has potential, but he disappears in games more than he should.
Nice try. Thanks for playing.
newportvol writes:
Who?
tnsportsman writes:
Tennessee is the FIRST and ONLY UT by 14 years older and took our Volunteers down to TX and saved their Butts or UTA would be San Jose University!
GO BIG ORANGE! The only Orange in College Sports!
tnsportsman writes:
OH and WAY TO GO Eric Berry, Eric Berry!
lomas98 writes:
I saw a picture of Cody being weighed at the combine on either espn or si. It should have been edited or blurred out. If it is not acceptable for a woman to walk around with her shirt off, Cody should cover up as well. Bro or Manzier anyone.
ut_vol22#657284 writes:
I know Berry will get drafted higher, but didn't Taylor Mays post a 4.24? The fastest for any player at the combine so far? Just curious.
GBO
BigBadVol writes:
What I find hilarious is when a Texas fan claims the real UT. The University of Tennessee was founded approximately 70 years before the State of Texas. LOL! Go Vols!
mountainbrook writes:
I bet you thought Ryan Leaf was better than Manning too.
txvolsfan writes:
was that at the halfway break!!!
423tiger18 writes:
Berry is a play maker and will be an immediate impact for whomever is lucky enough to get him.He has a way of being wherever the football is and is usually delivering one he11 of hit on some unsuspecting soul...
GBO and Good luck EB!!
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
He's at the 10 the 20..Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!
They timed his fat azz with a Sun Dial...Doh!
newportvol writes:
Tx claims 4 NC titles
Vols claim 6 both have 1 since the bcs was created
first season for tx 1893
vols 1891
Whose the real UT?
nocleats writes:
But Scout only rates him a 3*, and Rivals says he is only 5'11". LOL !!!
nocleats writes:
You know, one of the side effects of a chronic weed smoker is moobs!!
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
'Nuff Said...Good Post!!!
PEYDAY writes:
There would not even be a Texas if not for TN (See Volunteer State and Davy Crocket). Thus the real UT is in TN, not TX. If not for TN you all would just be a bunch of northern mexicans.
AppStVol writes:
Thomas ran a 4.53
mm29680#645909 writes:
Why hasn't anybody ever heard of him?
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
So sorry Rolando McClain wasn't even hardly mentioned and had VERY LITTLE TV time, Cody was made a joke about his size/slowness and Javier Arenas was AVERAGE. I'd be mad too if I supported Bammer....
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Oh by the way, you said Texas was the REAL UT.......U. of Texas wass founded in 1883. U. of Tennessee was founded in 1794. No disputing who's the real one.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
And if you want to say Texas is the real UT in football, Texas began playing in 1893. Tennessee began in 1891. Your arguement is null and void.
TrueVolFan writes:
Actually, it was mistakenly reported as a 4.24, but was later corrected and is listed officially by NFL Net as being 4.43 according to twitter post by Bruce Feldman of ESPN. Still a good time though.
njzick writes:
Word got out that he ran a 4.24 but that was later corrected to 4.43. EB had an unofficial 4.40 but apparently didn't stick. The fastest this year I believe was recorded by Jacoby Ford at 4.26. Chris Johnson had a 4.24.
GBO
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
And you say Texas has more wins? Yes they do, but look closely and you see they like Michigan racked up tons of early wins against 'San Antonio town team' and high schools. They were still playing high schools as late as 1915.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Yeah Cody was TN downfall this year. But that great Heisman winner and Trent and McElroy and Julio couldn't even manage a TD. I respect Bama but you also have to give credit to the team that came the closest to ruining your 7th (yes the others are a joke) title.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
I watched this and yes TM ran 4.24 and 4.34 according to the NFL Network times. The official times were an average of both runs conducted by the NFL and not having anything to do with the TV times.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
What was funny, they had an NFL announcer run the 40 also super-imposed with Ford running at the same time and show how far behind he was! The funny part (for SECFB) was they gave this announcer a 5 yard start and Cody's 40 BARELY CAUGHT AND PASSED the announcers time of like 6.67! FATAS
TheFuj writes:
Not sure who Earl Thomas is, but I am sure he is an ok player. I believe the UT Vols played Alabama a little better than the school from Austin. Texas may have been the 4th best team in the SEC.
RichmondKyVol writes:
I remember when President Lyndon Johnson, from Texas, came to Knoxville in early 1964 declaring war on poverty. "If it hadn't been for Tennessee, there wouldn't be a Texas," he said in a speech at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum, carried live by all the local TV stations.
SmokeytheVol writes:
regardless of it being put like this, i and hopefully others will continue to trash Cody. Youve got a point, but with a Heisman winner at RB, hes had help. Not taking anything away from the Mt. yet... All his championships are great, but the kid is a lazy slob who doesnt appreciate the opportunity hes been presented with. His ignorance on this is surprisingly substantial considering he plays with the cream of the crop there on the Bama D(McClain, Arenas idk who else, i hate Bama). But the point is, the guys just too lazy to be a solid NFL DT. Maybe he could go the Shaun Rogers route and put some work into it and be a Pro Bowl player but i for one highly doubt he will come close.
tn_rockytop writes:
hardesty was near the top off all his stuff to he did good as well he will be a pro hope he can stay healthy we got some good players going pro this year wixh we could keep them butt more good players to come
tn_rockytop writes:
didnt read much of this bla but did see the comment and would say i agree about Dennis Rogan he did not look good at all in what i saw he should have came back for his senoir year what was he thinking
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Agreed. The only drill I saw him run decent was the reverse-reverse run 20 yd and catch the ball and then return it. WHatever that is called. Anyway he looked decent because like half of the guys dropped the simulated INT. Even Berry fell down after his INT but held onto the ball.
njzick writes:
Correction from earlier: Ford had a 4.28. The unofficial times vary so much because they use a stop watch. I'm pretty sure the official is taken from video to make it as close as possible.
JohnnyVol writes:
When 4.47 speed and all of his 19 reps - along with his monster instict to hit -- show up to knock the bee-jee-bees out of a receiver or slot back, the .10 of a second will be quickly forgotten.
nocleats writes:
maybe that his grades werent gonna give him that chance, or more than likely, those close are wanting him to make the big bucks so they can get some too.
Sovol writes:
His 40 is the fastest 2 min. in sports.
Mule_Days_King writes:
Cody is Haynesworth plus 50 lbs and minus half the talent.
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
Obama made Cody a National Monument??
rockytopvol writes:
Rogan had grade issues and almost missed bowl game,but I think he should have hit the books and not the field at the combine.Hardesty, Berry and Williams all are going to do great, possibly Cromp in time but others have disappointed such as Mccoy,Scott and a few others we really depended on last year, but I wish them all luck....
keepitreal4vols writes:
He is gonna need all that speed when he blows his Defense assignment or misses a tackle and needs to catch up to the reciver he just let go by.
OrangePride writes:
And I bet you were the same troll telling everyone how much better Ryan Leaf was as a quarterback compared to Peyton Manning. The "real UT." What a joke!
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