But Tennessee's Eric Berry is expected to be the highest safety chosen in the draft since LaRon Landry went No. 6 overall to Washington in 2007. Berry is considered one of the three most NFL-ready players available in the draft, and it will be a minor upset if he's still available when Seattle drafts No. 6.

Taylor Mays, the O'Dea alum who played four years at USC, also may wind up chosen in the first round.

The high-end draft possibilities for the position reflect a change in the role safeties play in a defense, the result of the impact made by guys like Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed and Bob Sanders (at least when he was healthy).

"They kind of revolutionized that position," said Tim Lewis, Seattle's secondary coach last year.

"It's no longer just get a guy back there, deep middle, that can stay back there and make sure it doesn't go over his head."

Berry is a ballhawk of a safety. He weighed 211 pounds and said Sunday he can play nickel cornerback in addition to both safety spots. He played last season for Monte Kiffin, the Vols defensive coordinator and longtime NFL assistant. Kiffin's advice about his future?

"He said I would be a fool to come back," Berry said.

Mays considered entering the draft a year ago, and his decision to return has been second-guessed as he finished with fewer tackles. Does he feel his level of play waned as he returned?

"I don't think so at all," Mays said. "It never came from one of my coaches, I would say, or maybe NFL personnel. I feel like it only came from the media, which didn't bother me because they doin't have an influence on how I play as a football player.

"I had a lot more tackles than I had this year. I had about 40 more tackles my junior. It was just a different team. It was a different defense. The offense ran different plays against us. It was a lot different. I feel like the preparation was the same, the effort was the same. It is what it is."

Mays is a striker of a safety at 230 pounds, and he was known for the size of his hits. He was asked if that approach will change in the NFL.

"I'm going to have to be more aware of when the ball is in the air," Mays said. "In the NFL, a turnover is a big deal. I don't think I can't do it. I know I can do it. It's just adding that element to my game.

"It's something that I'm aware of and something I'm looking forward to being able to add to my game."

There are no questions about Berry's ball skills. He intercepted 12 passes his first two years for the Vols, but had only two last year.

"Teams were looking at me like I had the plague," Berry said. "Nobody was throwing my way."

He won't be ignored in April, and plenty of people expect him to be gone by the time Seattle chooses at No. 6.