Berry in the mix for Vols' offense

Eric Berry is waiting on his chance to contribute on offense when he's not making plays as one of Tennessee's top defensive players.
(T-G File Photo by Danny Parker)

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The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder spent time time at both cornerback and safety before earning freshman All-America honors from several publications and second team All-SEC by both the writers and coaches.

There was some speculation prior to Berry's first year in Knoxville that he would see some time on the offensive side of the ball and offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe seemed open to the idea. However, for one reason or another, the possibility never came to fruition.

With Cutcliffe off to Duke, new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson calling the plays, and Berry having a much better grasp of his role and assignments on defense, the idea of utilizing the playmaker's athletic ability with the ball in his hand is being revisited.

Berry admitted as much during UT Media Day at Neyland Stadium on Saturday.

"I talked to coach Clawson today, he said was I ready to come over there, but I'm just going to focus on defense right now till he calls my number," said Berry, who showed ball skills as a freshman by setting a record at UT for interception return yards with 222 on five picks.

So, what does the secondary stalwart think he can bring to the table on the other side of the ball?

"I think dynamics," Berry said, "that big-play guy that can take it 60 or 70 or whatever ... 80, 90 even. We've got guys like that on this team on offense already. So, I mean, I don't know."

More and more teams are experimenting with using former high school quarterbacks like Berry and receiver Gerald Jones at quarterback depending on the down, distance and situation.

When asked about how it could work in Clawson's new scheme, wide receivers coach Latrell Scott was all smiles before admitting they haven't really gotten into the particulars just yet.

"We're not sure," said Scott, who came to Knoxville after coaching with Clawson at Richmond. "It's a good problem to have. It's a good situation to have athletes like that. We have thoughts and plans of using Eric on offense at a point, but Eric's a safety first.

"If we can find snaps for Eric on offense that will allow him to be effective for us on offense but still be our best defensive player, then we'll do it. We don't have a set plan for when we will do it, but Eric's one of our best defensive players and he belongs to those guys first."