NFL Draft: Berry hopes to work with children after playing in NFL

Pitt senior Aaron Berry wants to help troubled youths.

That wasn’t his… Pitt senior Aaron Berry wants to help troubled youths.

That wasn’t his plan when he was growing up around Harrisburg, until he found his guide in the game of football. Now he wants to “help out kids and point them in the right direction.” Especially kids without football.

He is an administration of justice major, and he hopes that becoming a probation officer will allow him to get kids back on track.

But first, the cornerback hopes to land a job with the NFL.

Berry is one of eight Panthers entering this week’s NFL Draft, which starts Thursday in New York.

Audie Attar of Paradigm Sports Management is Berry’s agent going into next week’s NFL Draft. He thinks Berry will be an attractive prospect for many teams in the mid-to-later rounds.

Berry himself said he believes he’ll get drafted, but even if he doesn’t, he still thinks he’ll make a team.

“I got a shot. The draft is crazy, [but] as long as I get a chance to go to camp, I feel I can make the team,” he said. “I’ve been playing football my whole life. I’m ready for the opportunity and to take advantage of it.”

Although he was not invited to the NFL Combine this year, Berry has been working hard to impress scouts with his speed, reaction time and drive.

He participated in the East-West Shrine Game, where he most notably had a fumble recovery and improved his draft stock.

Berry measured in at 5-foot-10 and 176 pounds when he ran the 40-yard dash at a time that was reported to be between 4.3 and 4.4 at the Panthers’ Pro Day. He benched 225 pounds 11 times, had a vertical jump of 37 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet and 3 inches.

Berry has been one of the two starting cornerbacks for the Panthers since the 2007 season, when he started the last nine games. After lettering as a freshman in 2006, he saw limited time throughout 12 games.

Berry went on to have a breakout sophomore season, registering a team–high two interceptions, five pass breakups and 19 tackles. He also ranked third in the Big East with a 8.6 yards per punt return average that year.

In 2008, Berry completed 41 tackles, three interceptions, 10 pass breakups to lead the team, a sack and a blocked field goal. He received 14 punt returns with a 5.4 yards per punt return average. He was an all-Big East Second Team selection.

In his senior season, Berry had 31 tackles, one interception and was named to the all-Big East First Team.

Berry was a shutdown corner that covered the likes of Notre Dame’s Golden Tate and Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard throughout the season, as well as North Carolina’s Greg Little in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Berry claims the Meineke Car Care Bowl as one of his favorite moments as a Pitt player. He is proud to be on the first 10-win team at Pitt since Dan Marino led the Panthers in 1981 and to have the first bowl win for coach Dave Wannstedt during his tenure at Pitt.

If Berry can make a team in the NFL, he thinks he can contribute right away.

“I can help a team out any way possible, on special teams, at corner, nickelback,” he said. “I feel I can be a productive player.”