Tennessee football safety and returner Evan Berry is getting recognition from Athlon. The magazine named the Volunteers senior a Preseason All-American.
Despite a season-ending injury last year, Evan Berry is once again getting some love. The Tennessee football defensive back and return specialist achieved Preseason All-American recognition with Athlon.
The athlete was a second team kickoff returner in the magazine’s 2017 Preseason All-America team.
Although five Vols made Preseason All-SEC, Berry was the only one to reach Preseason All-American status.
Berry has not really emerged as a defensive back the way Tennessee football fans may have hoped when he arrived on campus, but he has more than made up for that with his skills as a return specialist.
Through only two and a half years, he has returned 49 kickoffs for 1,677 yards and an incredible four touchdowns.
He had three in 2015 alone.
On top of that, he had a great return to set up Tennessee football’s Hail Mary touchdown to beat the Georgia Bulldogs last year.
So he’s done it all.
The only concern surrounding Berry going into this year is how healthy he can be. Last year’s season-ending injury could be trouble for him trying to get back to full speed.
However, it looks like media outlets are predicting that from him. And given the level of disrespect that Athlon has shown towards Tennessee football this offseason, it’s impressive that they would keep their faith in Berry.
The brother of Eric Berry continues to develop a name in his own right, and for that he deserves respect. Nobody has thrived more in Butch Jones’s emphasis on special teams.
And should he fully get back to health, he’ll be a bigger weapon than ever this year and even more valuable as the Vols try to give their offense as much help as possible with two new quarterbacks.