P. J. Berry

Receptions:	469
Receiving yards:	5,365
Kickoff return yards:	6,589
Rushing yards:	97
Total TDs:	127

P.J. Berry
No. 8
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	December 18, 1982 (age 41); Hopewell, Virginia
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:	Hopewell (VA)
College:	Virginia State
Undrafted:	2006
Career history
	South Georgia Wildcats (2008); Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings (2009–2010); New Orleans VooDoo (2011); Pittsburgh Power (2012–2013); San Antonio Talons (2014);
Career highlights and awards
	American Conference All-af2 First Team (2008); 2× First Team All-Arena (2011, 2012); 2× All-Ironman Team (2011); Ironman of the Year (2011);
Career Arena statistics
Receptions:
Receptions:	469
Receiving yards:	5,365
Kickoff return yards:	6,589
Rushing yards:	97
Total TDs:	127
	Player stats at ArenaFan.com

Pharisse J. Berry (born December 18, 1982) is a former American football wide receiver. Berry played collegiately at Virginia State University.

Early life[edit]

Born the son of Pharisse Sr. and Virginia Berry, P.J. attended Hopewell High School in Hopewell, Virginia, where he was a two-sport star, lettering in football and baseball. He was an All-District selection in football as a junior and senior, while playing defensive back, quarterback and returned punts. Played baseball for three seasons, where he started mainly in centerfield, and also notched some innings as a pitcher. He was named All-Region twice in baseball. Voted to the Hopewell All-Decade Team for the 2000s (2000–09).

College career[edit]

Berry chose to continue his athletic career in college at Virginia State University, where he was a four-year letterwinner and was named All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association all four years at Virginia State. Selected All-Conference as a wide receiver as a freshman and sophomore, selected as kick returner as a junior and senior. Garnered All-American First Team honors as kick returner his senior season from the American Coaches Association. He is one of only two players to ever be named an All-American in football at Virginia State.^[1] In 2005, he was second in the nation returning kicks with a 34.4 yards/return average. He compiled over 3,000 all-purpose yards for his career. Named Division II Player of the Year for the state of Virginia in 2005.^[2] Also played baseball for Virginia State, where he was selected All-CIAA every season as a centerfielder, and boasted a .310 career batting average. Led the nation in stolen bases as a senior in 2005, swiping 39-of-40 attempts.

Professional career[edit]

South Georgia Wildcats[edit]

After sitting out a few years, Berry signed and played with the South Georgia Wildcats of the af2, in 2008, recording 3,229 all-purpose yards. As a receiver, Berry caught 92 passes totaling 1,425 yards and including 28 touchdown receptions. As a kick returner, Berry scored 6 touchdowns on his way to accumulating 1,753 return yards, as well as adding 2 rushing touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named American Conference All-af2 First Team.^[3]

Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings[edit]

For the 2009 season, Berry joined the af2 Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings. In his 2nd year with the team, the Battle Wings joined the re-formed Arena Football League. There Berry posted 118 catches for 1,352 yards and had 33 touchdowns. He also had 65 kick-off returns for 1,171 yards and 2 touchdowns.^[4]

New Orleans VooDoo[edit]

Berry signed with the New Orleans VooDoo on January 5, 2010 for the 2011 season.^[5] Berry set new AFL single-season records in all-purpose yards (3,708) and kickoff returns (101) in 2011. He became the first player in VooDoo history and the first from a New Orleans franchise since 1991 to win the award. Offensively, Berry ranked fourth in the AFL in receptions with 155. He led the VooDoo in receiving with 1,593-yards and 27 touchdowns on the year. He also notched 47-yards and nine touchdowns on the ground this season. As a returnman, Berry led the League with 2,043 kick return yards and five touchdowns, giving him 41 total touchdowns on the year. As a result of his fantastic play all season, Berry was named the 2011 JLS Ironman of the Year.^[6]

Pittsburgh Power[edit]

Berry signed with the Pittsburgh Power for the 2012 season. In 2012, he caught 111 passes for 1,282 yards and 18 touchdowns. Berry finished the season with First Team All-AFL honors and All-Ironman recognition as a special teams player after recording 111 kick returns for a Power franchise record of 2,024 yards.

Berry re-signed with the Power on March 6, 2013.

San Antonio Talons[edit]

Berry was assigned to the San Antonio Talons on January 30, 2014. The Talons folded after the 2014 season.

References[edit]

^ Virginia State All-Americans Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine
^ P.J. Berry Richmond Touchdown Division II Play of the Year for Virginia Archived 2011-10-01 at the Wayback Machine
^ Two Wildcat Players Earn All Conference
^ "P.J. Berry Arenafan.com Stats".
^ P.J. Berry VooDoo Bio Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
^ "VooDoo's PJ Berry Named JLS Ironman of the Year". Arenafootball.com. Arena Football League. August 8, 2011. Archived from the original on October 10, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.

[1] Virginia State All-Americans Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine

[2] P.J. Berry Richmond Touchdown Division II Play of the Year for Virginia Archived 2011-10-01 at the Wayback Machine

[3] Two Wildcat Players Earn All Conference

[4] "P.J. Berry Arenafan.com Stats".

[5] P.J. Berry VooDoo Bio Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine

[6] "VooDoo's PJ Berry Named JLS Ironman of the Year". Arenafootball.com. Arena Football League. August 8, 2011. Archived from the original on October 10, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.

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