Eric Berry, College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Eric Berry was not only a two-time First Team All-American. He was a back-to-back Unanimous First Teamer. He snagged a dozen interceptions in 2008 and 2009, winning the Thorpe award as best defensive back in the nation. But he wasn’t just a ball hawking safety. Berry collected just under 250 tackles from the centerfield position, and his ability to roam sideline to sideline attacking the ball (he had 31 pass deflection in his UT career) or securing the tackle, allowed his teams to play a hard, aggressive defensive style. He even earned a trio of sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss and recovered four fumbles. Not only was Berry good at getting his hands on the ball; he was dangerous after the fact. He totaled just under 500 return yards on interception in his career, including 265 yards in 2008 alone, averaging over 30 yards on each interception. Berry’s talent and on-field success led to him being a first round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs.