Despite his outstanding return skills, Evan Berry went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. Arguably the nation’s best kick return when healthy, he tied Tennessee’s school record for kick return touchdowns with four during his career, Berry never made any meaningful impact on Tennessee’s defense and that had to hurt him when being evaluated by NFL teams.
What may have hurt him even more was the fact he was probably playing the wrong side of the ball. That’s something even the most casual Tennessee fan could have told you during Berry’s playing career. For a team which struggled at times to find playmakers on offense, Berry was there to be used but was not for some reason.
The Cleveland Browns apparently won’t make the same mistake made by Butch Jones, as the team announced on Friday that Berry has officially been added to the team as a receiver. At least now Berry will be able to showcase his ability to make plays with the ball in his hands with the Browns, which gives him a significantly better shot at making the roster as an undrafted rookie free agent.
Berry now makes two former Tennessee players turned NFL rookies that have been moved to the other side of the ball immediately by NFL teams, as former defensive lineman Kahlil McKenzie was drafted by Kansas City specifically with the intent to play him on the offensive line. Sensing a familiar theme here?
Who knows, maybe Berry and McKenzie — two players that failed to realize their full potential in college, will thrive at the game’s highest level following their move to the offensive side of the ball. While they are making the moves later in their careers, transitions have been known to help other players in the past.
Take J.J. Watt for example. The former Central Michigan tight end left that program to walk on at Wisconsin and developed into one of the NFL’s best on the defensive line. The common link between the two former Vols and Watt? Of course, that would be none other than former Tennessee and CMU coach Butch Jones.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
