VFL Inky Johnson Delivers Passionate Speech About Eric Berry During Tennessee Fall Camp

Inky Johnson
VFL Inky Johnson with the 2024 Tennessee football team. Photo via Tennessee Athletics.

When VFL Inky Johnson is speaking, you should listen.

A former cornerback at Tennessee in the mid-2000s, Johnson was a two-time captain and projected first-round draft pick in the 2007 NFL Draft until a life-threatening injury paralyzed his arm and took his playing career away.

But where Johnson’s on-field career was gone, a new one was just beginning. Since his injury, Johnson has embarked on a new trail as a motivational speaker for companies, organizations, and teams alike, including Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, the New England Patriots, the Atlanta Braves, and countless more.

Johnson makes yearly trips back to Rocky Top, a place he still calls home, to speak with the Vols’ football team. The former Vol was in Knoxville on Aug. 12 as the team was going through fall camp. While no video was posted from Johnson’s visit, pictures showed him speaking with and hanging out with the team.

Johnson’s message was posted on X on Wednesday and struck a cord. Without giving too much away, Johnson read off a powerful message from former Tennessee defensive back legend Eric Berry.

More from RTI: ESPN GameDay Personality Rece Davis Praises Key Aspect of Vols’ Defense

Eric Berry’s Note (Transcript)

“A lot of players say they want to be great but they don’t put in the work to reach that level. This season I want to make a statement. Not only for my position but for all football players everywhere. I want to leave behind a legacy. Many people think of great players. When they think of a great player, I want my name to immediately come to mind. I want to show the rest of the defensive backs on my team what it takes to be a great defensive back and help U.T. become DBU (defensive back university). I want to show these guys the mindset, the work ethic, what it takes to achieve greatness and start a trickle-down effect that will first start with our unit, then to our whole defense, then to our team and the next thing you know the whole nation will try to play like us. It’s not an easy task, but who said it would be?

Goals:

  • Consensus All-American
  • All-SEC
  • Defensive Player of the Year
  • 10 Interceptions
  • Thorpe Award (Top DB in CFB)
  • SEC Academic Honor Roll

 

How I Will Reach These Goals:

  • Great preparation
  • No plays off
  • Play with passion

 

Eric Berry, 14 – I didn’t win the Thorpe Award last year so, obviously, I wasn’t the best defensive back in the country. I’ve got to prove them wrong and leave no doubt.”

No. 7 Tennessee hosts Kent State at 7:45 p.m. ET on Saturday night in Neyland Stadium.

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