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Published Oct 22, 2024
Former Vols' All-American Eric Berry tabbed to 2024 SEC Legends Class
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Noah Taylor  •  VolReport
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Eric Berry has had quite the award circuit in his post-football career.

The former Tennessee defensive back who was a two-time All-American before being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame last year, was tabbed to the 2024 SEC Legends Class, the league announced Tuesday.

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Berry is one of 15 former players and one head coach from SEC schools, joining Barrett Jones (Alabama), Ken Hamlin (Arkansas), Marcus McNeil (Auburn), Rex Grossman (Florida), Terrence Edwards (Georgia), Dicky Lyons Sr. (Kentucky), Andrew Whitworth (LSU), Dexter McCluster (Ole Miss), Fletcher Cox (Mississippi State), Chase Daniel (Missouri), Barry Switzer (Oklahoma), Corey Miller (South Carolina), Vince Young (Texas), Luke Joeckle (Texas A&M) and Ricky Anderson (Vanderbilt).

Berry was a three-time All-SEC selection during his Tennessee career from 2007-09 and was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. His two unanimous All-American selections in 2008 and 2009 were a first in program history.

After a three-year stint with the Vols, Berry was the SEC's all-time leader in both career interception return yards at 494 and single-season interception return yards with 265 yards in 2008, while his 14 total interceptions are tied for fifth play all-time at Tennessee.

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Berry accounted for 245 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, 31 passes defended, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. He became the highest drafted defensive player from Tennessee since Reggie White when he was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs as the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Berry spent eight seasons with the franchise where he was named All-Pro three times and earned the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award after overcoming a Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis to return to the team in 2015.

He was the 26th Tennessee player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

The SEC Legends Class will be honored before the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

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