P. J. Berry
Encyclopedia
Pharisse J. Berry is an American football
wide receiver
who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Power
of the Arena Football League
.
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).
, 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 Virignia State. 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. 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.
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.
. In his 2nd year with the team, the Battle Wings joined the re-formed Arena Football 1
. 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.
on January 5, 2010 for the 2011 season.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Power
Pittsburgh Power
The Pittsburgh Power is an Arena Football League team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that began play in March of 2011. The team plays its home games at the new Consol Energy Center, which they share with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League...
of the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
.
Early life
Born the son of Pharisse Sr. and Virginia Berry, P.J. attented Hopewell High SchoolHopewell High School (Virginia)
Hopewell High School is a secondary school located in Hopewell, Virginia. This is the only High School in Hopewell, Virginia. Hopewell High School's biggest rivalry is Petersburg High School- Sports :...
in Hopewell, Virginia
Hopewell, Virginia
Hopewell is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 22,591 at the 2010 Census . It is in Tri-Cities area of the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, where he was a two-sport star, lettering in football and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. He was an All-District selection in football as a junior and senior, while playing defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
, quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
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
Berry chose to continue his athletic career in college at Virginia State UniversityVirginia State University
Virginia State University is a historically black and land-grant university located north of the Appomattox River in Chesterfield, in the Richmond area. Founded on , Virginia State was the United States's first fully state-supported four-year institution of higher learning for black Americans...
, where he was a four-year letterwinner and was named All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is a college athletic conference, mostly consisting of historically black colleges and universities. Recent addition Chowan University is the first non-HBCU to play in the conference. Conference teams participate in the NCAA's Division II...
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 Virignia State. 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. 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.
South Georgia Wildcats
After sitting out a few years, Berry signed and played with the South Georgia WildcatsSouth Georgia Wildcats
The South Georgia Wildcats were a professional arena football team. They were a 2002 expansion member of af2, the minor league for the Arena Football League...
of the af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, 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.
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
For the 2009 season, Berry joined the af2 Bossier-Shreveport Battle WingsBossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
The Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings were an Arena Football League team based in Bossier City, Louisiana. They played at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City and represented both Bossier City and Shreveport...
. In his 2nd year with the team, the Battle Wings joined the re-formed Arena Football 1
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
. 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.
New Orleans VooDoo
Berry signed with the New Orleans VooDooNew Orleans VooDoo
The New Orleans VooDoo are an Arena Football League team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play their home games in New Orleans Arena....
on January 5, 2010 for the 2011 season.