Jack Berry '76

Jack Berry was a tremendous two-sport athlete at W&L during the mid 1970's. Berry lettered all four years as a member of the track & field and football teams and was selected as a captain for both sports, including serving as a two-year captain for the football team.

In track & field, Berry was among the team's top performers in the javelin all four years. However, it was on the football field where he made his biggest impact.

Berry was a three-year starter at quarterback and graduated holding nearly every passing record at W&L. He passed for better than 1,000 yards in each of his final three seasons and finished his senior year ranked third in Division III in passing completions per game (14.4 cpg) and fifth in total offense (193.3 ypg).

A three-time All-Virginia College Athletic Association (VCAA) selection, Berry received Honorable Mention Little All-America honors from the Associated Press following his senior season in 1975. He was twice selected as the offensive MVP of the homecoming game and he received the 1975 Dan Ray Justice Award as the team's Offensive MVP.

Berry entered the W&L Athletic Hall of Fame still ranked fourth all-time at W&L in career total offense (4,377) and fifth in career completions (369), career yards (4,299) and career touchdown passes (27). He also holds the record for the longest passing play in school history, a 99-yard connection with Mercer West against Hampden-Sydney in 1974.

Following his senior campaign, Berry received the Pres Brown Award as W&L's top senior athlete and he was selected in the 17th round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was the final selection of the Buccaneers' first-ever draft class.