Berry Named AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year

Dec. 8, 2008

Tennessee sophomore safety Eric Berry was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press, the organization announced Monday. He is one of just five sophomores to be named first-team All-SEC.

Berry is tied for the national lead with seven interceptions and also broke UT and SEC records for interception return yards in a season with 265. His 222 interception return yards from 2007 allowed him to also take possession of the UT and SEC career records in that category. He enters next season just 14 yards shy of the major college career record of 501 interception return yards set by Florida State's Terrell Buckley from 1989-91.

The Fairburn, Ga., native finished the 2008 season third on the UT team with 72 tackles while breaking up six passes in addition to his seven picks. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns and also posted 8.5 tackles for loss.

"I am extremely proud for Eric and this honor is well deserved," coach Phillip Fulmer said. "Eric is a great football player and outstanding student, but his greatest attribute is he is a great person and leader. He is an example for our university and for what is good about college football."

Berry has already had All-America honors bestowed upon him by the American Football Coaches Association. He was just one of four sophomores named to that team last week. He twice was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week during the season, earning recognition after both the Mississippi State and Vanderbilt games for his record-breaking returns.

Berry is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which will be given to the nation's top defensive back Thursday in Orlando, Fla., and was a semifinalist for the Lott Trophy and Bednarik Award.

Two other Vols also earned acclaim from the AP. Both seniors, offensive lineman Anthony Parker and defensive end Robert Ayers were selected second-team all-conference.

Ayers was sixth on the team with 49 tackles but led all Vols with 15.5 tackles for loss. He also registered his first career interception at Georgia. Parker started all 12 games on the offensive line, six at each of the guard positions.

Phillip Fulmer Hired as Special Assistant to UT President

Former University of Tennessee head football coach Phillip Fulmer has been hired as a special assistant to the UT president. Fulmer has accepted a limited duration appointment effective December 1, 2008 through February 28, 2009.

"Phillip Fulmer is a UT icon and a wonderful ambassador. Over his long career with the University he has developed a vast network of contacts, made invaluable relationships with alumni and UT supporters, and done extensive work with development. I look forward to having him assist with further developing and enhancing strategic relationships for the University," UT President John Petersen said.

"I am not yet certain what the future holds for my career, but I'll always support my alma mater, and I appreciate the opportunity to help the University out now," Fulmer added.

The three-month appointment calls for a rate of pay of $12,500 per month, to be funded by private dollars. Fulmer also will receive employment benefits as provided other full-time UT employees.

2008 ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-SEC TEAM
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tim Tebow, Florida
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Eric Berry, Tennessee
COACH OF THE YEAR
Nick Saban, Alabama
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Julio Jones, Alabama
FIRST TEAM
Offense
WR	Brandon LaFell	LSU	6-3	209	Jr.
WR	A.J. Green	Georgia	6-4	200	Fr.
L	Michael Oher	Mississippi	6-5	318	Sr.
L	Andre Smith	Alabama	6-5	330	Jr.
L	Phil Trautwein	Florida	6-6	310	Sr.
L	Clint Boling	Georgia	6-5	286	So.
L	Herman Johnson	LSU	6-7	375	Sr.
C	Antoine Caldwell	Alabama	6-3	305	Sr.
TE	D.J. Williams	Arkansas	6-2	250	So.
QB	Tim Tebow	Florida	6-3	240	Jr.
RB	Knowshon Moreno	Georgia	5-11	208	So.
RB	Glen Coffee	Alabama	6-1	198	Jr.
K	Joshua Shene	Mississippi	5-8	170	Jr.
All-Purpose	Percy Harvin	Florida	5-11	195	Jr.
Defense
E	Rahim Alem	LSU	6-3	254	Jr.
E	Antonio Coleman	Auburn	6-3	250	Jr.
T	Terrence Cody	Alabama	6-5	365	Jr.
T	Peria Jerry	Mississippi	6-2	290	Sr.
LB	Brandon Spikes	Florida	6-3	245	Jr.
LB	Rolando McClain	Alabama	6-4	249	So.
LB	Eric Norwood	South Carolina	6-1	253	Jr.
CB	Trevard Lindley	Kentucky	6-0	175	Jr.
CB	D.J. Moore	Vanderbilt	5-10	182	Jr.
S	Rashad Johnson	Alabama	6-0	186	Sr.
S	Eric Berry	Tennessee	5-11	195	So.
P	Tim Masthay	Kentucky	6-2	203	Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Offense
WR	Percy Harvin	Florida	5-11	195	Jr.
WR	Julio Jones	Alabama	6-4	210	Fr.
WR	Mohamed Massaquoi	Georgia	6-2	204	Sr.
L	Garry Williams	Kentucky	6-3	300	Sr.
L	Ciron Black	LSU	6-5	325	Jr.
L	Mike Johnson	Alabama	6-6	299	Jr.
L	Anthony Parker	Tennessee	6-3	300	Sr.
C	Jonathan Luigs	Arkansas	6-4	314	Sr.
TE	Jared Cook	South Carolina	6-5	240	Jr.
QB	Matthew Stafford	Georgia	6-3	228	Jr.
RB	Michael Smith	Arkansas	5-7	173	Jr.
RB	Charles Scott	LSU	5-11	233	Jr.
K	Colt David	LSU	5-9	172	Sr.
All-Purpose	Dexter McCluster	Mississippi	5-8	165	Jr.
Defense
E	Robert Ayers	Tennessee	6-3	270	Jr.
E	Jermaine Cunningham	Florida	6-3	250	Jr.
E	Carlos Dunlap	Florida	6-6	290	So.
E	Tyson Jackson	LSU	6-5	290	Sr.
T	Malcolm Sheppard	Arkansas	6-3	277	Jr.
T	Myron Pryor	Kentucky	6-1	310	Sr.
LB	Dominic Douglas	Mississippi St.	6-2	235	Sr.
LB	Rennie Curran	Georgia	5-11	228	So.
LB	Darry Beckwith	LSU	6-1	232	Sr.
LB	Patrick Benoist	Vanderbilt	6-0	222	Jr.
CB	Javier Arenas	Alabama	5-9	198	Jr.
CB	Joe Haden	Florida	5-11	185	So.
S	Emanuel Cook	South Carolina	5-10	203	Jr.
S	Reshad Jones	Georgia	6-2	212	So.
P	Jeremy Davis	Arkansas	5-9	206	Sr.
P	Brian Mimbs	Georgia	5-11	209	Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense
All-Purpose	Brandon James	Florida	5-11	186	Jr.
WR	Kenny McKinley	South Carolina	6-0	187	Sr.
K	Jonathan Phillips	Florida	5-10	210	Sr.
C	Maurkice Pouncey	Florida	6-5	312	So.
G	Mike Pouncey	Florida	6-5	312	So.
QB	Jevan Snead	Mississippi	6-3	215	So.
K	Ryan Succop	South Carolina	6-3	221	Sr.
T	Jason Watkins	Florida	6-6	310	Sr.
Defense
S	Ahmad Black	Florida	5-9	190	So.
E	Greg Hardy	Mississippi	6-4	265	Jr.
E	Jeremy Jarmon	Kentucky	6-3	277	Jr.
LB	Micah Johnson	Kentucky	6-2	250	Jr.
T	Sen'Derrick Marks	Auburn	6-2	296	Jr.
T	Lawon Scott	Mississippi	6-1	322	So.

University of Tennessee Athletics

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