Berry officially jumping to the NFL

When the talk turns to which players will leave a year of collegiate eligibility on the table and make themselves available for the 2010 NFL draft, it's almost a foregone conclusion that Eric Berry will leave Tennessee a year early.

While he's yet to make any type of official announcement, Berry all but confirmed to the world last night that making the leap will indeed be his next football move.

After taking home the Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back, the junior gave the biggest indication yet what his intentions will be.

"I'm going to really miss the fans," Berry said according to the Knoxville News Sentinel. "The fans were always into the game whether we won or lost, they always stuck by us."

By most accounts, Berry is very likely to be a Top Ten pick, if not one of the first five players taken. Given that status, it would be borderline crazy for the safety to remain in school.