Bulldogs on alert for Vols' Berry

By Ken Sugiura

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATHENS – Perhaps the best non-Tim Tebow player in the SEC is next on Georgia's menu and Tennessee safety Eric Berry has the Bulldogs' full attention.

"You've definitely got to know where he is but it's not something where I think anybody  is intimidated of him," Georgia quarterback Joe Cox said. "But he is a great player. He has a great nose for the ball. He's all over the field and you’ve got to know where he is at all times."

After playing deeper in the secondary in his first two seasons, Berry, from Creekside High and touted by Tennessee as a Heisman Trophy candidate, has been playing closer to the line of scrimmage in run support. As a result, he is third in the SEC in tackles, the only defensive back in the top 10.

"I don't know if there's any word to describe him other than special," said coach Mark Richt, raving about his tackling ability, ball skills and speed.

Against Georgia a year ago, he intercepted a Matthew Stafford pass and returned it 54 yards. He was named a unanimous all-American after his sophomore season.

Berry is 15 yards away from breaking the NCAA career record for interception return yardage (501 by Florida State's Terrell Buckley). Cox joked Tuesday about not wanting to throw an interception to Berry and becoming a footnote in history.

"You've got to be aware of where he is not only as a play-caller but as a football player," offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. "The guy is a very physical football player and if you're not running behind your pads, he'll cut you in half."

Injury report

Running back Caleb King fractured his jaw and sustained a concussion against LSU Saturday. Coaches said it is possible, though unlikely, that he'll play Saturday against the Volunteers. He was injured on a tackle by Tigers defensive end Rahim Alem on a screen pass but stayed in the game.

Richt said that King will be cleared to play once he is free of concussion symptoms.

Backup linebacker Marcus Dowtin will miss the UT game after tearing ligaments in the ring finger of his left hand. He had surgery Sunday. Dowtin said he could play next week against Vanderbilt.

Neither player practiced Tuesday, along with starter wide receiver Tavarres King, whose injury was not specified. King indicated earlier in the day that he expected to play Saturday.

Missed on Crompton

Richt said that Georgia heavily recruited Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton, who has struggled this season. He has thrown eight interceptions in 150 passing attempts.

"We wanted him as bad as anybody that we've recruited at the quarterback position at Georgia," Richt said. "He's a very talented young man."

Crompton, from Waynesville, N.C., was in the same recruiting class as quarterback Cox, who is from Charlotte. The two attended some football camps together and represented the state in an all-star game against South Carolina.

Etc.

This Georgia-Tennessee game represents the first time since 1937 that neither team is ranked in either poll. They've met 25 times since that game.