Tennessee football’s legacy freshmen meet the media

KNOXVILLE – Six Tennessee freshmen football players made their media debuts Friday afternoon: Dillon Bates, Elliot Berry, Evan Berry, Neiko Creamer, Todd Kelly, Jr. and Vic Wharton.

The gathering in the team’s meeting room at the Anderson Training Center had a legacy theme.

Every player has a relative who has played for the Vols.

“I kind of embraced it,” Evan Berry said of following in the footsteps of his father, James, and older brother, Eric.

“It’s always good to have a milestone in front of you and great goals ahead of you,” he said. “Especially that’s made by your family members.”

More coverage is on the way.

But first, some highlights.

• Evan Berry is playing primarily corner, he said. His twin brother (and roommate) Elliott Berry is playing primarily nickel defensive back.

• Evan Berry described his decision to wear former Vol Inky Johnson’s No. 29. Eric Berry wears the same with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“Inky Johnson obviously had a career-ending injury. I think every day that people would love to be in my shoes right now, to be playing at the University of Tennessee,” he said. “Just to show my respect for him. I really didn’t want anyone wearing that number and not really knowing the meaning behind that number. So I decided to take that number and wear it, and represent it.”

• Bates said he weighs 232 pounds, up 10 to 15 since he arrived in Knoxville. Kelly, Jr. said he’s up to 203 pounds.

• Wharton, a former Independence standout who says he is playing primarily slot receiver, said he took some pride in recruiting other signees after he became the Vols’ first commit in the 2014 class.

“Play for Coach Butch) Jones,” Wharton said when asked for his recruiting pitch. “I think he’s the best coach in the country. If you want to play for a great guy, come here.”

• Wharton said he has been working on fielding kicks with Alton “Pig” Howard.

• Creimer discussed the switch he made from receiver to linebacker this spring.

“The transition was smooth,” he said. “Especially after the first week of getting used to being on the other side of the ball. My body can withstand any position. I know the coaches know what they’re doing. I’m used to playing receiver but the linebacker transition was smooth.”

• Multiple newcomers talked about their desire to bring back a winning tradition to Tennessee.

“I’m a local guy,” Kelly, Jr. said. “I’ve seen the fans struggle. It’s been four losing seasons in a row. You can see just the determination the guys have in workouts and meetings. Just staying so honed in. They want to win ballgames. I want to be a part of that.”