Former Tennessee star safety Eric Berry

One of the most popular players in Tennessee football history will serve as the VFL Legend of the Game on Saturday when former Vol and current Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Eric Berry returns to Neyland Stadium for the matchup against South Carolina.

Berry played for the Vols from 2007-09 and started all 39 games he appeared in for Tennessee. He was a unanimous All-America selection in his final two seasons and won the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the top defensive back in college football. Berry was also a finalist for several defensive player of the year awards.

In 2008 he was named the SEC defensive player of the year by the league's coaches and the Associated Press.

When he left Tennessee, Berry was the NCAA career leader in interception return yards with 494. He had 14 career interceptions, good for fifth in school history.

In 2009, Berry was named to Sports Illustrated's All-Decade Team.

The No. 5 overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2010 NFL draft, Berry started all 16 games as a rookie for the Chiefs and was selected to the Pro Bowl after his inaugural season.

He has had an illustrious career in the NFL, and in 2015 he returned to the field after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in December 2014.

Tennessee football is a family affair for Berry, who has returned to Knoxville often to support coach Butch Jones and the football program.

Berry's father, James, played running back for the for Vols from 1978-81, and his younger brothers Evan and Elliott are currently on the UT roster. In fact, Evan Berry was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a kickoff more than 100 yards for a touchdown against Kentucky.

Rest assured, Berry will receive a loud and deserved ovation when he returns to Neyland Stadium this weekend. The Chiefs (3-5) are off this Sunday and will play undefeated Denver and former Vol Peyton Manning on Nov. 15.

