Damien Berry facts for kids
Berry during practice at M&T Bank Stadium,
August, 2011. |
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| No. 30, 23, 28 | |
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| Position: | Running back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | October 21, 1989 Belle Glade, Florida |
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight: | 223 lb (101 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Glades Central (Belle Glade, Florida) |
| College: | Miami |
| Undrafted: | 2011 |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Player stats at PFR | |
Damien Berry (born October 21, 1989) is a former American football player. He was a talented running back. Damien played college football for the University of Miami. There, he was the top rusher for his team in 2010. He was also chosen as a second-team All-ACC player. Later, the Baltimore Ravens signed him in 2011.
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Damien Berry's Early Life
Damien Berry was born in 1989 in Belle Glade, Florida. His dad, Kenny Berry, also played college football. He played for the Miami Hurricanes from 1987 to 1989.
High School Football
Damien went to Suncoast High School. He played both running back and safety. He was mostly used as a safety.
As a sophomore, Damien caught four interceptions. He also ran for over 500 yards. He scored 14 touchdowns that season. In his junior year, he rushed for 530 yards. He also had five touchdowns and three interceptions.
For his senior year, Damien moved to Glades Central High School. There, he rushed for an amazing 1,080 yards. He also scored 19 touchdowns. Damien even played through a serious knee injury (a torn ACL). He helped lead Glades Central to win a state championship. After the season, he had surgery to fix his knee.
Football experts saw Damien's talent. Rivals.com ranked him as the 7th best safety prospect. They also said he was the 14th best player in Florida.
College Football Career
Damien Berry started his college career at the University of Miami.
Freshman Year
As a freshman, Damien played in all 12 games. He mostly played on special teams, helping with kickoffs. He made eight tackles during the season. In the last game against Boston College, he played safety.
Sophomore Year
For his sophomore season, Damien changed positions. He moved from safety to running back. He played in seven games. He was part of the kickoff team and made three tackles.
Becoming a Star Running Back
In March 2009, Damien showed his skills. He rushed for 124 yards in a spring game. This included a long 54-yard touchdown run. This helped him earn a spot on the team.
As a junior, Damien had his best game. He rushed for 162 yards against Florida A&M. He gave all the credit to his offensive line. Fans loved watching him play. They would chant his name ("Berry, Berry, Berry...") when he entered games.
Damien was known for his powerful running style. He once said, "If you're not a defensive lineman or a strong linebacker, I'm going to run through you." He preferred to run straight through defenders. He felt there was no need for fancy moves if he could just power through.
During the 2009 season, Damien rushed for 616 yards. He averaged 6.6 yards per carry. He also led his team with eight touchdowns.
In October 2010, Damien made history. He had three games in a row where he rushed for over 100 yards. Only four other Miami Hurricanes running backs had done this before him. These players were Willis McGahee, Edgerrin James, Clinton Portis, and Frank Gore. He even added a fourth 100-yard game the next week!
Even with some injuries, Damien rushed for 899 yards in 2010. He was the leading rusher for Miami that year. He was also named a second-team All-ACC player.
Professional Football Career
Baltimore Ravens
In 2011, the Baltimore Ravens signed Damien Berry. He joined them as an undrafted free agent. This means he wasn't chosen in the NFL draft, but the team still wanted him.
The Ravens gave Damien jersey number 23. This was the same number worn by Willis McGahee. McGahee was another great running back from the Miami Hurricanes who played for the Ravens. Damien was proud to wear the number. He said he would try to build on what McGahee had done.
On August 25, 2013, Damien was released by the Ravens.
