page_title: Eric Berry
section_title: 2008 season
hierarchical_section_title: Eric Berry / College career / 2008 season
context_page_description: Eric Berry is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Tennessee, where he was a two-time unanimous All-American and recognized as the best collegiate defensive back in the country. He was then drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs fifth overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. Berry has been voted to the Pro Bowl five times and has been named to the First Team All-Pro three times.
  Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma on December 8, 2014. After going through chemotherapy in the offseason and being declared cancer free, Berry came back for the 2015 season and was named to the Pro Bowl, the AP All-Pro team, and was named the 2015 AP Comeback Player of the Year. He was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
context_section_description: Prior to the season, despite being a sophomore, Berry was named a team captain.
  For the year, Berry tied for the national lead in interceptions with seven and returned them for 265 yards and two touchdowns, breaking the record he set the year earlier. Combined with the yards he accumulated as a freshman, Berry set the all-time career SEC record for interception return yards with 487 yards, only 14 yards shy of the NCAA record for interception return yards, set by Terrell Buckley during his time at Florida State. He also finished the regular season with 72 tackles, six pass break-ups, and three sacks.
  Berry also took snaps on offense at quarterback and wide receiver, gaining 44 rushing yards on seven carries. In addition, he gained 32 yards on two kick-off returns.
  His early success had some journalists speculating that he could end up being the best defensive player in Tennessee history.  He was nominated as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, the Lott Trophy, and the Chuck Bednarik Award.
  Berry was named the SEC Defensive Player of the year and was a first-team All-SEC pick.  He was also a unanimous first-team All American.  The Touchdown Club of Columbus also named him their winner of the 2008 Jack Tatum Award as well.
caption: Berry in 2008 as a member of the Tennessee Volunteers.
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