The 2007 Tennessee football season could be explained as a roller coaster ride of highs and lows.

The Vols gave up a combined 100 points against rivals Florida and Alabama, scoring only 37 points of their own in those two games, before rattling off five straight wins to win the Eastern Division and earn a trip to the SEC Championship game.

We remember the mistakes we made during those games. Eric Berry on past losses One of the brightest notes from the season was the play of Eric Berry. The highly touted recruit from Fairburn, Ga., was ranked as the best cornerback prospect in the nation entering the 2007 season but earned his stripes at safety last season.

The freshman turned in his best defensive performance of the season in the last game of the regular season, coming up with 14 tackles during a four-overtime win at Kentucky that sent the Vols to the conference title game.

The All-SEC performer finished the season with 86 tackles (most among SEC freshmen defenders), two fumble recoveries and five interceptions. Those interceptions were turned into a school record 222 return yards.

Berry used a 96-yard interception return for a touchdown against Florida and 98 return yards on two picks against Arkansas to help him break the record held by Bobby Majors since 1970.

The stats Berry piled-up in 2007 have not gone unnoticed by the national media, as he was included on the 2008 Lott Trophy Watch List. The list consists of the 42 best collegiate defensive players heading into the new season.

The Vols lost many big names from the front seven to graduation and the NFL draft, but a talented and deep defensive backfield led by Berry should help the Vols adapt in 2008.

However, Berry finds himself in an unfamiliar position at the onset of spring practice; leader of a relatively young Volunteer defense.

"I'm still not as vocal as coach wants me to be, but I'm just trying to lead by example," Berry said when asked about his new role. "I think we just kind of feed off each other."

I'm still not as vocal as coach wants me to be, but I'm just trying to lead by example. Berry on his leadership

Tennessee added experience to a young defense with the return of Demetrice Morley, who missed the 2007 season due to academic shortcomings. Berry said Morley's return has added comradery, competition and a new found work ethic.

"We just like to come out and challenge each other, see who can get the most picks or the most pass break ups by the end of the day," Berry said. "Demetrice has got one more than me right now, but I told him I was going to catch him. We just like to come out and compete and it makes us better."

This isn't the first time Tennessee has seen a Berry succeed wearing orange. Eric's father, James Berry, was a three-year starter and four-time letterman at UT, in addition to being a team captain in 1981.

"My dad always looks at it like I still got work to do and that keeps me humble and keeps me focused," the younger Berry said. "I just try to please him all the time and he continues to tell me I can do better.

"He sets his standards high and I set my own standards extremely high, so I'm not satisfied right now. I'm going to keep working."

The Vols have had to adjust to new coaches on the offensive side of the ball during the first four practices of the spring regimen. With the departure of former offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe, as well as position coaches Matt Luke and Kurt Roper, the Vols find themselves with a new offensive identity.

Dave Clawson was brought in from FCS (formerly Division I-AA) Richmond to run the offense after an extensive search, and is joined by fellow new offensive coaches Latrell Scott and Stan Drayton. Berry believes the Vols will transition without missing a step.

"I think we're taking it all in very well," said Berry. "They're great coaches and great guys. You can go up to them and talk to them or ask them anything."

The three new coaches came as familiar faces for Berry after the recruiting process he went through during his high school career.

"Coach Clawson and Coach Scott recruited a player from my high school, so I knew them before," Berry said. "Coach Drayton recruited me out of high school so we had a pretty good relationship when he got here. We're just picking up where we left off."

I'm not satisfied right now. I'm going to keep working. Berry on his future at UT Picking up where the Vols left off -- a season ending win over Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl and No. 12 ranking in the final polls -- is exactly what this young Volunteer squad hopes to do.

With a tough road test against UCLA to open the season, Tennessee will be forced to find its new identity quickly. Waiting for the Vols when they return to Knoxville will be UAB and rival Florida, before going on the road once more for their first conference road test at Auburn.

The tough act to open the season should test the Vols, but Berry believes his team will learn from past mistakes against tough competition and build on the future.

"We remember the mistakes we made during those games," Berry said. "We don't dwell on them. We kind of use them as tools for the future to do better.

"Right now I think it was a very good experience. Even though it wasn't fun, I think we can use what we learned to be successful next season."