Damien Berry
Encyclopedia
Damien Berry is an American football
running back
. He played college football
at Miami
where he was the team's leading rusher in 2010 and a second-team All-ACC
selection. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
of the National Football League
as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
. His father, Kenny Berry, played college football for the Miami Hurricanes
from 1987 to 1989. Berry attended Suncoast High School where he played running back
and safety, though he was mainly used as a safety. As a sophomore for Suncoast, Berry had four interceptions, more than 500 rushing yards, and 300 more all-purpose yards, and finished the season with 14 touchdowns. As a junior, Berry rushed for 530 yards and five touchdowns to go along with three interceptions on defense. As a senior, Berry transferred to Glades Central High School
, where he rushed for 1,080 yards and 19 touchdowns. Despite suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL), Berry played through the injury as a senior and led Glades Central to a state title. He later had surgery to repair tears in the meniscus and ACL.
Berry was recruited as a safety and was rated the No. 7 safety prospect and the No. 14 player in Florida by Rivals.com
. He was also ranked No. 9 player in Florida by the Orlando Sentinel
.
, registering one solo tackle.
Berry was moved to running back his sophomore season. He played in seven games on the kickoff cover team and recorded three tackles.
In March 2009, Berry secured a spot for himself when he rushed for 124 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown run, during Miami's annual spring game.
As a junior, Berry rushed for a career-high 162 yards against the Florida Gators
. Interviewed after the game, Berry gave the credit to his offensive line: "Everything went great, and, I mean, yeah, that's thanks to my O-line." He became a fan favorite as Miami supporters "rhythmically chanted" his last name ("Berry, Berry, Berry ...") when he entered games. Asked in November 2009 about whether he lacked the moves to shake defenders, Berry replied:
During the 2009 season, Berry rushed for 616 yards, averaging 6.6 yards per carry, and led the Hurricanes with eight touchdowns.
In October 2010, Berry became only of only five running backs in Miami Hurricanes history to have three consecutive 100-yard rushing games. The other four are
Damien Berry is carrying the football with such brute force, he joined Willis McGahee
, Edgerrin James
, Clinton Portis
and Frank Gore
. He added a fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance the following week. Despite injury problems, Berry rushed for 899 yards during the 2010 season. He was Miami's leading rusher in 2010, was selected as a second-team All-ACC
player.
as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
Berry was assigned No. 23 by the Ravens, the same number worn by Willis McGahee
, another Miami Hurricanes running back who went on to play for the Ravens. After receiving the jersey, Berry told reporters, "It was a total surprise. I came in and they had No. 23 in my locker. I'm proud to wear it. I'm definitely going to represent for Willis and try to build on what he left here."
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
where he was the team's leading rusher in 2010 and a second-team All-ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
selection. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
Early years
Damien Berry was born in 1989 at Belle Glade, FloridaBelle Glade, Florida
Belle Glade is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida on the southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee. The population was 14,906 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2007, the city had a population of 16,739....
. His father, Kenny Berry, played college football for the Miami Hurricanes
Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes, of Coral Gables, Florida, are the varsity sports teams of the University of Miami. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The university fields 15 athletic teams for 17 varsity sports...
from 1987 to 1989. Berry attended Suncoast High School where he played running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and safety, though he was mainly used as a safety. As a sophomore for Suncoast, Berry had four interceptions, more than 500 rushing yards, and 300 more all-purpose yards, and finished the season with 14 touchdowns. As a junior, Berry rushed for 530 yards and five touchdowns to go along with three interceptions on defense. As a senior, Berry transferred to Glades Central High School
Glades Central High School
Glades Central High School is a high school located in Belle Glade, Florida. It is known for having one of the best high school football teams in the nation, with more football players in the NFL and in the NCAA than any other high school...
, where he rushed for 1,080 yards and 19 touchdowns. Despite suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
(ACL), Berry played through the injury as a senior and led Glades Central to a state title. He later had surgery to repair tears in the meniscus and ACL.
Berry was recruited as a safety and was rated the No. 7 safety prospect and the No. 14 player in Florida by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
. He was also ranked No. 9 player in Florida by the Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
The Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. As of 2005, the Sentinel’s president and publisher was Kathleen Waltz; she announced her resignation in February 2008...
.
College
Berry saw action in all 12 games as a freshman. He played only on special teams in the first 11 games, registering three solo tackles and five tackle assists. He played safety in the season finale against Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, registering one solo tackle.
Berry was moved to running back his sophomore season. He played in seven games on the kickoff cover team and recorded three tackles.
In March 2009, Berry secured a spot for himself when he rushed for 124 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown run, during Miami's annual spring game.
As a junior, Berry rushed for a career-high 162 yards against the Florida Gators
2009 Florida Gators football team
The 2009 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2009 college football season...
. Interviewed after the game, Berry gave the credit to his offensive line: "Everything went great, and, I mean, yeah, that's thanks to my O-line." He became a fan favorite as Miami supporters "rhythmically chanted" his last name ("Berry, Berry, Berry ...") when he entered games. Asked in November 2009 about whether he lacked the moves to shake defenders, Berry replied:
"If you're not a defensive lineman or a legit linebacker, I'm going to run through you. When I look up and see nothing but one guy (in front of him), I'm going through him. ... They say I can't shake (defenders). I got moves, but why use it when you don't need it? I'm more of a power back. I'd rather run straight through you than try to run around you."
During the 2009 season, Berry rushed for 616 yards, averaging 6.6 yards per carry, and led the Hurricanes with eight touchdowns.
In October 2010, Berry became only of only five running backs in Miami Hurricanes history to have three consecutive 100-yard rushing games. The other four are
Damien Berry is carrying the football with such brute force, he joined Willis McGahee
Willis McGahee
Willis Andrew McGahee III is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
, Edgerrin James
Edgerrin James
Edgerrin Tyree James is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts fourth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami....
, Clinton Portis
Clinton Portis
Clinton Earl Portis is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
and Frank Gore
Frank Gore
Franklin Gore is an American football running back who plays for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Miami. NFL Network analysts have nicknamed Gore "The Inconvenient Truth".-High school career:Gore attended Coral Gables High...
. He added a fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance the following week. Despite injury problems, Berry rushed for 899 yards during the 2010 season. He was Miami's leading rusher in 2010, was selected as a second-team All-ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
player.
Professional career
Berry was signed by the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
Berry was assigned No. 23 by the Ravens, the same number worn by Willis McGahee
Willis McGahee
Willis Andrew McGahee III is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
, another Miami Hurricanes running back who went on to play for the Ravens. After receiving the jersey, Berry told reporters, "It was a total surprise. I came in and they had No. 23 in my locker. I'm proud to wear it. I'm definitely going to represent for Willis and try to build on what he left here."