KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee kickoff returner Evan Berry and punt returner Cameron Sutton have both been named Sporting News First Team All-Americans. For Berry, it is his sixth All-American honor and for Sutton, it is his first. On Monday, Berry and Sutton both earned second-team honors from the Football Writers Association of America.
Berry, Sutton and Alvin Kamara have combined for six special teams return touchdowns this season, setting a new Tennessee modern-era record. Their electrifying returns helped Tennessee post an 8-4 regular-season record and earn a bowl berth for the second-straight year. The Vols will play No. 12 Northwestern in the 2016 Outback Bowl on Jan. 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
Berry was previously named a Walter Camp First Team All-American, a Sports Illustrated First Team All-American, a CBS Sports Second Team All-American and a FOX Sports Second Team All-American. On Dec. 9, he became the first Vol to earn SEC Special Teams Player of the Year. Berry leads the nation with a 38.3 kickoff return average and is one just four players in the nation with three kickoff return touchdowns this season. His three kickoff returns for a touchdown tied the UT single-season record set by Willie Gault in 1980. Berry’s total of 804 overall return yards (both kickoff and punt return yards) ranks as the fourth-most in a season in Tennessee history. His 34.8 career kickoff return average is also a new Tennessee record.
Sutton has established himself as the country’s top punt returner, leading the nation in punt return average (18.7 yards per return). He is just one of 12 players with two punts returned for a touchdown this year and he is the sixth Vol to register two punt-return TDs and the first since Terry Fair accomplished the feat in 1996. He had an 84-yard score against Kentucky on Oct. 31 and a career-long 85-yard return for a touchdown against Vanderbilt on Nov. 28. Sutton’s 16.0-yard career punt return average ranks first in Tennessee history. Sutton has also started every game at cornerback this year, posting 28 tackles, one interception, two forced fumbles, three tackles for a loss and six pass break-ups.
Tennessee’s postseason honors to date:
Derek Barnett – Defensive Line
– All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
– All-SEC Second Team (Associated Press)
– GridironNow.com All-SEC Second-Team Defense
Evan Berry – Kickoff Returner
– Walter Camp First Team All-American
– Sporting News First Team All American
– Sports Illustrated First Team All American
– AutoNation FWAA Second Team All-American
– CBS Sports Second Team All-American
– FOX Sports Second Team All-American
– SEC Special Teams Player of the Year
– All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
– All-SEC Second Team (Associated Press) – All-Purpose
– ESPN.com All-SEC
– GridironNow.com All-SEC First-Team Specialists
Chance Hall – Offensive Line
– All-SEC Freshman Team
Jalen Hurd – Running Back
– All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
– All-SEC Second Team (Associated Press)
– GridironNow.com All-SEC Second-Team Offense
Kyler Kerbyson – Offensive Line
– ESPN.com All-SEC
– All-SEC Second Team (Associated Press)
Darrin Kirkland Jr. – Linebacker
– All-SEC Freshman Team
Jalen Reeves-Maybin – Linebacker
– All-SEC Second Team (Associated Press)
– GridironNow.com All-SEC Second-Team Defense
Jashon Robertson – Offensive Line
– GridironNow.com All-SEC Second-Team Offense
Cameron Sutton – Punt Returner
– Sporting News First Team All American
– AutoNation FWAA Second Team All-American
– GridironNow.com All-SEC First-Team Specialists
Dylan Wiesman – Offensive Line
– All-SEC Second Team (Associated Press)