Berrios thriving as a punt returner

CORAL GABLES — He’s caught passes that have extended critical drives and scored key touchdowns. He’s been one of the Hurricanes’ go-to players multiple times.

But for there may be no more exciting moment on the football field than the one where he’s looking up and trying to decide what to do with the punt that’s headed his way while defenders swarm nearby.

“I’d say it’s probably one of, if not the, scariest jobs in football. You have to have a mentality for it when you go back there,” Berrios said. “It’s finding the direction and depth of the kick, looking at your cover guys and seeing if they covered down or not, and then it’s a split-second decision whether you’re going to return it or call a fair catch. … It’s a thrill. It really is.”

Through the Hurricanes first six games, Berrios has earned recognition for his performance as a receiver. He’s caught 25 passes for a team-high 337 yards. But he’s also averaging 16.5 yards on his eight punt returns, good enough to put him sixth in the nation. No player in the Atlantic Coast Conference has done better.

Berrios has shown flashes of speed and has a seasonlong return of 44 yards. Though he hasn’t broken free for a touchdown return just yet, the Raleigh native wouldn’t mind if that opportunity finally comes Saturday when Miami plays at North Carolina and Berrios plays his final regular-season contest in his home state.

No. 8 UM at UNC, Saturday, noon, ESPN2

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