Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said this week that one of the reasons star safety Eric Berry hasn't gotten more chances on offense this season was that he hurt his shoulder.
Going into the season, the Vols talked about using Berry a lot on offense. His only offensive snap, though, came in the Alabama game when he caught a short screen pass and was drilled by Alabama defenders.
The play never had a chance, and Berry told several of his teammates and former teammates afterward that's when he hurt his shoulder and that he didn't have much interest in playing any more offense the rest of this season.
Berry, an All-America candidate at safety, has been dynamite on interception returns and played quarterback in high school. He and Vanderbilt D.J. Moore's are tied for the national lead with six interceptions. Berry has 220 return yards and admits that it intrigues him watching Berry play so many different positions for the Commodores.
"I wouldn't call it jealous," said Berry, who has 11 career interceptions in just two seasons. "I just look at him and say, 'Man, I can do some of those same things.' "
Other than the one snap on offense, Berry has also returned two kickoffs this season for a 16-yard average. The rest of his time has been spent on defense.
Chris Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
