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| 2009
Male Amateur Athlete of the Year
Eric Berry
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This 5-11
sophomore defensive back from Fairburn, Georgia is the first
Tennessee player to claim unanimous All-America honors since
1990, one of just nine players nationally to make all five
first teams. In his 25 game career, he has become the only
player with an interception in seven different games, owns
12 interceptions for 487 return yards and three touchdowns
and has broken interception return yard records that had been
on the books for a combined 187 years. Berry enters next season
just 14 yards shy of the major college career record of 501
interception return yards and currently owns records for a
UT season (previously stood for 37 years), UT career (39 years),
SEC season (52 years) and SEC career (59 years).
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Berry's
long list of honors for 2008 include the All-America NCAA Consensus
and Unanimous (AFCA, Sporting News, Associated Press, Football
Writers and Walter Camp), SEC Defensive Player of the Year -
Coaches and Associated Press, All-SEC Coaches and Associated
Press, Jim Thorpe Award Finalist, Draddy Trophy and Bednarik
Award Semifinalist, Southeast Defensive Back of Year (Touchdown
Club of Atlanta) Tennessee Sports Writers Player of the Year
and the Jack Tatum Award-Nation's Best Defensive Back (Touchdown
Club of Columbus, Ohio). |
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