KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Evan Berry made his mark last season by returning three kickoff returns for touchdowns.

He averaged 38.3 yards on 21 returns and was named an All-American, just like his brother Eric did at Tennessee in 2009.

Berry’s touchdowns a season ago were memorable and critical — instant offense — but did the Vols take full advantage of their superstar returner?

Not necessarily.

On average, Tennessee began its drives on its 32-yard line following Berry’s 18 kickoff returns that did not result in a touchdown.

Tennessee went on to score on six of those drives: two touchdown passes, two scoring runs and two field goals. Those scoring drives consisted of one play for 18 yards, eight plays for 49 yards, 14 plays for 67 yards, eight plays for 53 yards, eight plays for 67 yards, and eight plays for 66 yards.

On average, the Vols didn’t keep the ball long after those 18 returns. They averaged five plays per drive; seven drives lasted three plays or fewer. The average drive was 3:11.

As great as Berry was in 2015, there is room for Tennessee’s offense to do more with the field position advantage he typically provides.

That’s a goal for Team 120, and achieving it can set Tennessee apart from others who typically will have to drive farther for points.

As Berry enters the 2016 season, he also has the opportunity to maintain his current status of being Tennessee’s school leader in career kickoff return average (34.8).

But as the goals become higher within the return game, the understanding of teams kicking away from the All-American returner also becomes a factor – and the Vols thrive off of it.

“When people want to avoid us, that means that we’ve done our jobs,” defensive back Micah Abernathy said about Berry and the return team. “If they do that this year, we’re going to make them pay even more.”