Auburn quarterback Chris Todd, left, is tackled by Vanderbilt cornerback D.J. Moore (17) in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

KNOXVILLE — Eric Berry isn’t “jealous” of D.J. Moore.

But the University of Tennessee’s sophomore star covets his Vanderbilt counterpart’s more versatile role.

“I wouldn’t call it, ‘jealous,’” Berry said. “I just look at him and say, ‘Man, I can do the same things.’”

But Berry hasn’t had similar opportunities.

Moore was named the Walter Camp Foundation national player of the week after intercepting two passes — including a game-clincher late in the fourth quarter — in the Commodores’ victory at Kentucky.

He also lined up at wide receiver, punt returner and kick returner that night in Commonwealth Stadium. He caught passes for 25 and 18 yards in the first quarter.

Moore, also a situational quarterback, is the only Southeastern Conference player to line up at five positions this season.

Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said Moore’s value was “hard to quantify.”

“I’ll tell you it’s pretty special, I think,” Johnson added. “You’ve got to learn the sets, you’ve got to learn the coverages and you’ve got to concentrate because that’s not easy. Then you’ve got to actually perform the skills necessary to be successful at it.

“You’ve got to be in such tremendous shape to run all those plays. I think it’s a pretty monumental achievement, what he did last week.”

UT senior wide receiver Josh Briscoe said the offense will pinpoint Moore’s location before very play. Defensive coordinator John Chavis said his group must locate Moore when he enters the offensive huddle.

Vols coach Phillip Fulmer said his team must be careful with Moore — the SEC’s third-best punt returner — on special teams.

UT offensive coordinator Dave Clawson jokingly offered his “best” chance to avoid Moore.

“I hope they keep playing him on offense more,” Clawson said. “Hopefully he’ll get tired, and they won’t play him on defense as much.”

Berry isn’t bad, either. He hasn’t had as many special teams and offensive chances as Moore, but his defensive statistics are more impressive.

Moore and Berry are tied for the NCAA Division I lead with six interceptions this season, but Berry has lapped the field with 220 return yards (Moore has 56).

Berry also has a 64-43 tackling advantage, a 12-6 lead in tackles for loss and a 2-1 edge in sacks. Moore has forced and recovered a fumble, while Berry hasn’t done either — though certainly not from a lack of contact.

“(Moore) is a great player,” Briscoe said. “You see him around the ball a lot, even if they’re throwing away from him, he’s running across the field to get in with the play. He’s a great athlete. He flies around the field. He’s around the ball at all times, and he’s making plays.

“But Eric Berry is at a completely different level than I’ve seen in a defensive back.”

Berry has practiced as a shotgun quarterback since arriving at UT last summer, but his non-defensive touches aren’t hard to find. He caught one pass for 3 yards and returned two kickoffs for a total of 32 yards against Alabama.

Fulmer revealed Tuesday that an unspecified shoulder injury — an “old” problem — has prevented Berry from more opportunities on offense and special teams. He said offseason surgery is a possibility.

“It’s something we really had to be careful with,” Fulmer said. “He’s played his rear off and played well, and he’s so valuable to our defensive football team and our special teams during the heat of the season and everything. Getting him over there and getting him tackled 25 times or 20 times or 10 times a game at that point wasn’t something necessarily that we could do.

“If we had better depth, if we had better depth at safety, if we hadn’t had the injury, yes, certainly there’s things he could have done.”

Johnson said Moore’s offensive opportunities stem from a separate-but-equal situation.

“The fact we had some injuries in the receiver corps made it imperative we do that to get a playmaker in there,” Johnson said. “And (Moore) can handle it. He’s proven he can.”

Fulmer said Berry could provide the Vols a similar spark under different circumstances.

UT’s offense — one of the nation’s five worst in yards and points per game — could probably use the help. But even Berry wasn’t sure he’d get that chance this season.

“I truly respect a player that can go both ways, and it just makes me want to do it even more,” Berry said. “But I just try to focus on what I need to do to help the team out and make sure that we get a win.”

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