There’s no doubt that the Kansas City Chiefs got themselves a great one in the first round last night when they snapped up Tennessee safety Eric Berry. Berry’s athleticism and skill have been well documented in the myriad of draft analysis that has taken place already. However, there is something that may not be known to many about this first rounder. He has two younger brothers that appear headed to putting their feet in big brother’s shoes and popping right out the front of them.
Gridironstuds.com was one of the first to report last June how the University of Tennessee, being led then by Lane Kiffin, obtained a commitment from 13 year old Evan Berry, younger brother of Eric Berry. You can read that article here. Evan also has a slightly older brother named Elliott Berry who is equally as talented. Both players are stand out track performers in the sprints with several records to their credit. By all indications, they are ahead of where older brother Eric was at their age.
On the football field, both brothers have been dominant as well. Of course, it’s 2010 so there is video available to prove this point. The Berry brothers play for the Faiburn Flames and they are one of the top youth football teams in Georgia. There’s video available of them playing together on that team taking on the #1 team in their area Central DeKalb. It’s one of the more entertaining videos you will ever watch of a youth football game. Thanks to BorntoCompete.com for filming and editing the contest. Check out the video here.
Evan was named the BorntoCompete.com’s 14 and under Player of the Year and there’s a highlight video showing his exploits on the field as a member of the Fairburn Flames. View that video here.
The Berry’s have an outstanding blood line. Their father James Berry was the captain of the 1981 Tennessee Volunteers football team and was a three year starter in Knoxville. This family is truly blessed. NFL franchises be on the lookout.
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elliot berry, eric berry, evan berry
The Man has obviously read books by Madonna and Dennis Rodman. On National Signing Day when colleges in the Top 5 to 10 usually get the brunt of the attention, new USC head coach Lane Kiffin made sure that USC got more than their fair share of publicity when he accepted a commitment from another 13 year old football player.
David Sills from Delaware, who has been described as a quarterback prodigy by Steve Clarkson, spoke with Kiffin on National Signing Day and pledged to the Trojans (his dream school) for the year 2015 (Isn’t that the year Buck Rogers is supposed to return to Earth?). Undoubtedly, this move has brought some attention and I am only aiding and abetting by posting a story here but you gotta love Kiffin. He’s in the right town, real close to Hollywood, where grabbing headlines is the foremost industry.
As rare as this whole situation may seem, believe it or not, it’s not the first time that Kiffin has had a 13 year old commit to him. Back in June of 2009, Kiffin secured a commitment from 13 year old Evan Berry from Georgia. Berry is the younger brother of NFL prospect and Tennessee Volunteer Eric Berry. I wrote a story on it then “Oh Yes, it’s True, Tennessee Football Secures Commitment from 13 Year Old“. It seems that wherever he goes, 13 year old football players love Lane Kiffin and Kiffin can’t ignore the spotlight. I’m not hatin but I’m just sayin.
There’s a lot of hurdles that lay ahead for both Evan Berry and David Sills on their journey to National Signing Day in the year 2015. There’s the impending crush on Miley Cyrus, the girlfriends at school, the competition on the football field, injury, global warming, etc. However, when 2015 finally does arrive Sills and Berry can rest easy that they have a place secured while their classmates frantically run around trying to secure their futures. I for one can’t wait to roll up my wheelchair, pop in my dentures and watch them doing their thing.
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david sills, evan berry, lane kiffin, usc football
Once again, Lane Kiffin and the Tennesse Volunteers have remained relevant and in the news. I reported on their inordinate amount of offers out to 2010 prospects and now Kiffin and Co. are the first to go out and secure a commitment for, get this, Class of 2013.
Yes, you heard me, the Tennessee Volunteers have nailed down a commitment from a 13 year old. Now before you go willy nilly on Lane Kiffin, I am going to give some blame to the media on this one (I guess that’s going to involve me too!). I am sure there are many 13 year olds in the country that think they have a firm idea as to where they want to play college football. However, I am sure that this particular 13 year old’s declaration has been made public because it’s Tennessee and makes for a good news story. Kiffin gets some blame here because he wanted an atmosphere where the Vols are constantly on the tip of everyone’s tongue and by golly, that’s what he’s getting.
It should be noted that the 13 year old named Evan Berry is brother of current Tennessee Volunteer defensive back Eric Berry. It’s only natural that younger brother would want to go where older brother and father played. Evan Berry also has a fraternal twin that is also a talented football player and looks to be a future division I prospect. Does he want to go to Tennessee also? No, according to father James Berry. Elliot Berry is partial to LSU and that’s where his heart lies at the moment. Evan, the Volunteer commit, is 5’8″ 145 while Elliot is 5’11″.
Perhaps Tennessee did some things to make Evan’s declaration a media event. If so, once again, Kiffin has kept Tennessee football in the limelight. I hope Kiffin can keep it there when there’s actual football being played this Fall. If Kiffin’s staff happens to range into the area of 187 offers put out to 2013 prospects some time this summer, you can bet that I will be all over that story.
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eric berry, evan berry, lane kiffen, tennessee football
