Scooter Berry facts for kids
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | June 28, 1986 Bay Shore, New York, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 275 lb (125 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | North Babylon (NY) | ||||||||
| College: | West Virginia | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2011 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career CFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Career Arena statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at CFL.ca (archive) | |||||||||
| Player stats at ArenaFan.com | |||||||||
Richard "Scooter" Berry, born on June 28, 1986, is a former professional football player. He played as a defensive end, a position on the defense that tries to stop the other team's offense. Scooter Berry played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers. He later joined the Houston Texans in the National Football League (NFL).
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Scooter Berry's Early Life and High School Football
Scooter Berry grew up in North Babylon, New York. He went to North Babylon High School. There, he was a star player on the football team. As a senior, he played both linebacker and fullback. His team had a great season, winning 10 games and losing only one.
On defense, Scooter was amazing. He made 68 tackles and had 7 sacks. A tackle is when you bring down an opposing player. A sack is when you tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. On offense, he rushed for 1,341 yards and scored 20 touchdowns during his high school career. He was chosen as an all-Long Island player. He also earned all-county honors three times and all-state honors twice.
Many colleges wanted Scooter to play for them. He was mostly recruited as a fullback. This was because he weighed 245 pounds. This weight was a bit small for a defensive lineman but too big for a linebacker. He received offers from colleges like Boston College and Central Florida. In the end, he decided to play for West Virginia University.
Scooter Berry's College Football Career
Scooter Berry played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers. He spent five years with the team.
Starting Out: Freshman Year (2006)
When Scooter first joined West Virginia in 2006, he "redshirted." This means he practiced with the team but did not play in any games. This allowed him to train and get stronger without using up a year of his playing eligibility. During this year, he won an award for being the best scout team player on defense.
Making an Impact: Redshirt-Freshman Year (2007)
In 2007, Scooter earned a starting spot on the defensive line. He played alongside two other strong players, Keilen Dykes and Johnny Dingle. He quickly showed how good he was.
Scooter finished this season with 27 total tackles. He also had one sack and 4.5 tackles for a loss. A tackle for a loss means he stopped the opposing player behind their starting line. He also forced one fumble and recovered three fumbles, leading his team in fumble recoveries. Because of his great performance, he was named to several Freshman All-American teams.
Continuing Success: Redshirt-Sophomore Year (2008)
Scooter returned to the defensive line in 2008. He was one of the most experienced players on the defense. He continued to play a key role for the team.
By the end of the season, Scooter was named a second-team All-Big East player. He had 34 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and recovered two fumbles. He also forced another fumble.
Junior and Senior Seasons (2009-2010)
Scooter's junior season in 2009 was cut short. He suffered a shoulder injury in a game against ECU on September 12. He had surgery on his shoulder during the offseason.
He came back strong for his senior year in 2010. He immediately made a big difference for the team. Scooter finished his senior season as a second-team All-Big East selection again. He made 35 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for a loss, and recorded 4 sacks.
Scooter Berry's Professional Football Journey
After college, Scooter Berry hoped to join the NFL. He was not chosen in the 2011 NFL draft. However, the Houston Texans signed him as an undrafted player. This means they signed him even though he wasn't picked in the draft. He was cut from the team before the season began.
Arena Football League (AFL) Success
Scooter then joined the Jacksonville Sharks in the Arena Football League. This league plays football indoors on a smaller field. In the 2012 season, he set a new record for rookies in the AFL. He recorded 13 sacks, which was the most by any first-year player in the league's history.
Canadian Football League (CFL) and More AFL Teams
After his great season with the Sharks, Scooter signed with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) in September 2012. He played for them in 2012 and 2013.
Later, in 2015, he was traded to the Los Angeles KISS, another Arena Football League team. Soon after, he was traded back to the Jacksonville Sharks. Scooter Berry had a varied career playing in different professional football leagues.
