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Tennessee Football 2016 Recap: Ranking the Top 10 Vols Performers of the Season

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) hits Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) causing a fumble recovered by Tennessee for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) hits Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) causing a fumble recovered by Tennessee for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 29, 2016; Columbia, SC, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Evan Berry (29) returns a kickoff for a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Columbia, SC, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Evan Berry (29) returns a kickoff for a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports /

He suffered a season-ending injury late in the year, but Evan Berry still managed to be named All-SEC as a kick returner for the third straight year. That just shows how great of a returner he is, and once again, he was a crucial part of a few Tennessee football victories.

Let’s start with the fact that he had another kick return for a touchdown this year against the South Carolina Gamecocks, even though Tennessee lost that game.

He also averaged 32.9 yards per return this year with 14 kick returns for 460 yards. He helped the Vols control field position in wins against Appalachian State and Florida with nice kickoff returns, and then he did the same thing against Georgia.

But on top of that against Georgia, he had a crucial kickoff return to set up the biggest play of the year for Tennessee football.

Down three with 10 seconds left, Berry fielded a kickoff into Georgia territory and got out of bounds just in time, showing great talent and awareness. It was that return that was able to set up the Vols’ game-winning Hail Mary.

Oh, and Berry also saw some valuable action at safety. So overall, he was a great enough player to once again earn a spot on this list despite that season-ending injury.

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