OKLAHOMA CITY — Eric Berry has a lofty new tradition to uphold as the winner of the Jim Thorpe Award.
Two of the last three winners of the award given to the nation’s top college defensive back have gone on to win the Super Bowl the following year.
“That’s something we hope keeps rolling,” the former All-American safety at Tennessee said Monday night before receiving his award at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
New Orleans Saints cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, last year’s Thorpe Award winner, cut short his celebration to be a part of the presentation, saying he got only about 2 hours of sleep before boarding a plane in Miami and connecting through Atlanta.
“I hope Eric gets him one, too. But hopefully I can get some more under my belt,” said Jenkins, a backup cornerback who had four tackles in the 31-17 win against Indianapolis.
Jenkins said he had made his plans to attend the Thorpe Award ceremony before the Saints ever got close to the Super Bowl and he stuck with it because he likes “to give back to people that give to me.”
“That’s pretty cool. It just tells you a lot about him,” Berry said. “He could do anything as far as after the Super Bowl, but he did make his way back to Oklahoma to come present me the award. I’m very honored for him to do that.”
The two met after the 2008 season, when both were finalists for the Thorpe Award. Berry went on to notch two interceptions and two fumble recoveries for the Vols last season. He also was second on the team with 83 tackles.
“Me not getting it the year before definitely made me go out and work harder and continue on that path,” Berry said. “I was just very excited. It made me appreciate it a lot more.”
Past winners also include Charles Woodson, Antoine Winfield, Terrell Buckley and fellow Super Bowl champion Deion Sanders.
“A lot of people put a lot of emphasis on the Heisman Trophy,” said Bennie Blades, the 1987 Thorpe winner. “I’m not taking anything away from the Heisman Trophy, but if you think about it, Jim Thorpe did it on every aspect — not only football but track, basketball, baseball. Anything that he touched, he excelled at it.”
Berry, who declared to enter the NFL draft after his junior season, said he set a goal to win the Thorpe Award years ago — after he learned about it while playing a college football video game. Berry said he’d already won the award virtually several times, using his likeness on the game.
“I definitely pay attention to a lot of the Thorpe Award winners. I’ve followed this award for a long time, so it’s definitely an honor for me to win this award,” Berry said.
Berry said he has spent his time since Tennessee’s loss in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl preparing in Florida for the NFL combine and the Thorpe banquet was one of his first chances to get away.
His goal in leaving the Vols early was to get drafted high enough that he can support his family.
“I just kind of wanted my dad and my mom to sit down and enjoy life a little bit,” Berry said.
While being wrapped up in his draft preparations, Berry said he hasn’t had the chance to meet new Tennessee coach Derek Dooley. But he isn’t holding any grudges against his former Vols coach, Lane Kiffin, for staying only one season before leaving for Southern California.
“That’s his dream job. Just like anyone else, if you had the opportunity to go do your dream job, you would probably leave, too. I can’t really say anything because I’m about to do my dream and I left college early,” Berry said.
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