KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Two-time unanimous first-team All-America defensive back and College Football Hall of Famer Eric Berry has been named to the prestigious 2024 SEC Football Legends Class, the league office announced on Tuesday.
The 2024 Football Legends class includes 16 former stars who excelled on the gridiron and helped write the rich history of the sport at their respective institutions, and is the first to include representatives from new members Oklahoma and Texas.
The class will be honored at the 2024 SEC Football “Weekend of Champions” Dec. 6-7 in Atlanta, Georgia, highlighted by the annual SEC Legends Celebration presented by T-Mobile on Friday, Dec. 6 at the College Football Hall of Fame. The group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Berry is the only player in school history to earn unanimous All-America honors twice. In 2009, he became the first player in school history to claim the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back after being a finalist in 2008. A finalist for the 2009 Nagurski Trophy, he also twice claimed the Jack Tatum Award as the nation’s top defensive back. A three-time All-SEC selection, Berry was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 after leading the conference with seven interceptions.
Berry’s tenure in Rocky Top established him as the SEC’s all-time leader in career interception return yards (494) and single-season interception return yards (265 in 2008). He also holds the Vol record for career yards (35.3) per interception. His 14 career interceptions ranks tied for fifth in UT career annals.
The two-year team captain out of Fairburn, Georgia, culminated his career with 245 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, 14 interceptions, 31 passes defended, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
Berry became the highest drafted Vol defensive player since Reggie White (1984) when he was selected with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft by Kansas City. Berry played with the Chiefs until 2018, making five Pro Bowl appearances and earning first team All-Pro honors three times. After being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014, he was named the 2015 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
In December 2023, Berry was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, becoming the 26th Vol to do so.
2024 SEC Football Legends Class
Alabama – Barrett Jones, Offensive Lineman, 2009-12
Arkansas – Ken Hamlin, Free Safety, 2000-02
Auburn – Marcus McNeill, Offensive Tackle, 2002-05
Florida – Rex Grossman, Quarterback, 2000-02
Georgia – Terrence Edwards, Receiver, 1999-2002
Kentucky – Dicky Lyons Sr., Tailback/Receiver/All-Purpose, 1966-68
LSU – Andrew Whitworth, Offensive Tackle, 2002-05
Ole Miss – Dexter McCluster, Running Back, 2006-09
Mississippi State – Fletcher Cox, Defensive Lineman, 2009-11
Missouri – Chase Daniel, Quarterback, 2005-08
Oklahoma – Barry Switzer, Head Coach, 1973-88
South Carolina – Corey Miller, Defensive End, 1987-90
Tennessee – Eric Berry, Defensive Back, 2007-09
Texas – Vince Young, Quarterback, 2002-05
Texas A&M – Luke Joeckel, Offensive Tackle, 2010-12
Vanderbilt – Ricky Anderson, Punter/Kicker, 1981-84
