Eric Berry left quite a legacy at Tennessee. Despite playing for some middling Volunteers teams in the late-2000s, the All-American left a major impact on UT history as the greatest defensive back the school has ever produced. He also left a path for his younger twin brothers, Evan and Elliott, to follow.

While Elliott works to carve out a role for himself at linebacker, Evan looks to be developing into the type of player who can take up their older brother’s mantle as a star defensive back. Wearing his brother’s NFL number, Berry has been one of the most impressive players in Tennessee’s injury-marred spring practices.

“(An) individual who I thought did a really good job, really showed out today was Evan Berry from the safety position,” Butch Jones said after Tennessee’s scrimmage two weeks ago.

While Evan is still a work in progress, according to Jones, it’s becoming clear that he’s next in line to carry Tennessee’s defensive backfield. After playing as a kick returner and reserve defensive back last season, Berry is making an early case to become a major factor in Tennessee’s safety rotation this fall.

For the young Volunteers, safety is the one spot where the coaching staff can count on veterans. LaDarrell McNeil and Brian Randolph are both seniors, ready to lead the rest of a defense populated almost entirely by younger players. Those vets have been impressed with Berry, too.

“There’s times he starts to look like his brother, no lie,” Randolph told 247sports.

Evan has a long way to go before he reaches Eric’s All-American status. He recorded all of five tackles as a freshman, which pales in comparison to the 87 tackles, forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and five interceptions Eric recorded as a freshman.

So, maybe there are benchmarks the Vols should be looking for the younger Berry safety to hit other than his brother’s lofty standards. For starters, there’s consistency in seeing the game unfold in front of him. As Berry told reporters earlier this spring, the game is starting to slow down for him.

“It was just a blur to me (last season),” Berry told the Knoxville News Sentinel. “Now it’s kind of slowed down and I understand it a lot more. Now that I do, it’s time to make plays.”

Jones has so far praised Berry’s playmaking this spring. He’s told the media that Berry has made a couple of interceptions this spring, and he’s playing “downhill” and using his instincts and increased knowledge to make plays.

Berry showed off some excellent instincts with the ball in his hands last year. A former high school state champion sprinter, Berry used that speed to be one of the best kick returners in the SEC last fall. He only had 14 return opportunities, but averaged 29.5 yards per return, the second-highest average in the conference. If he can make plays on defense this fall like he’s been doing in scrimmages, he has the skills with the ball in his hands to be a real weapon for the Volunteers.

Tennessee is certain to chase after some of the top safeties in the class of 2016, hoping to bolster its defensive backfield once Randolph and McNeil graduate. Before Berry’s emergence this spring, there was reason for concern. Now, the Volunteers have a bridge to carry the back end of their young defense as the team continues its rise back to prominence.

Once Berry is established in the secondary, then the young Vol can set his sights on matching his older brother.